East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-11-06
CANDIDATES AND POLICIES,

1t is to be regretted that a second
candidate for mayor is to take the
field, for the presence OF two candi-
dates always carries the idea of op-
position. Of a wide difference in poll
cles advocated, Of a municipal fight
"a thing PendletOn should studious-
ly avoid.
She is just now at a point where a
continuation Of the policy Of improve
ment and decency will give her pres
tige and advertising which will bring
hundreds of school hungry families
to the city.
To precipitate a municipal fight
now will leave these school hungry
people in doubt whether to come here
or not. II the candidate opposed to
Improvements and closed town policy
wins, they surely will not come.
With a petition bearing 200 names
OF bona fide citizens of Pendleton, E.
]. Murphy entered the field for may
or with a praiseworthy following
which speaks highly of his excellent
services on the council and OF his fit
ness for mayor at this time.
Other men are as able and as wor-
thy OF support as Mr.. Murphy. but
under the circumstances the appear
ance Of other candidates will leave the
impression in the minds of people
looking toward Pendleton as a future
home. that there is strong sentiment
against good order, public improve
ments and municipal progress, all OF
which Mr.. Murphy stands for in the
most emphatic manner.
Pendleton cannot afford to have It
said that there is opposition to these
things and it is to be regretted that
a line is to be drawn against a contin-
uation of the present excellent con-
ditions.
Mr. Murphy has helped to raise sa-
loon licenses, resulting in an increas-
ed income of about $4,000 per year to
the city He has stood for the ellmi-
nation Of gambling, music in saloons,
saloon boxes and other Objectionable
features of the liquor business. until
Pendleton now has the best regulat
ed lot of saloons in Oregon, without
doubt.
Would an opposing candidate undo
these things? Would he reduce sa-
loon license. replace boxes, music and
gambling? If not why the opposition
to Mr.. Murphy, who has helped to
bring about present satisfactory con-
ditions?
Mr.. Murphy has helped to bring
the excellent public improvements to
Pendleton-street paving, sewer ex-
tension, levee repairs, matchmaking,
city hall and municipal cleanliness.
Would an opposing candidate undo
these things? Would he block the
progress of improvements? Would
he retard the city's forward move
ments bonds for which have been
cheerfully voted by the taxpayers?
II not, then why the opposition to
Mr.. Murphy? II Mr.. Murphy's pol
icy, which will be a continuation of
the policy of the past two years, is
good for the city, why an opposing
candidate?
The people will naturally say that
opposition to Murphy means a rever-
sal Of the policy which Murphy would
pursue. They would be justified in
that supposition and here Is what
such a policy would be: Stoppage of
all improvements; cessation of street
work; no city hall: wide open town
and a constant agitation under the
state law, resulting in unsettled con-
ditions and unpleasantness; saloon IL
censes reduced and city income d.
minished gambling joints under po-
lice protection; flooding the town with
Objectionable characters which can
live nowhere else in Oregon except at
Baker City at the present time; no
expenditure Of money for public i'm
provements except in the most urgent
cases and a general return to unsatis-
factory conditions Of five years ago
Does Pendleton want a policy Of
this kind? Opposition to the election
Of Mr.. Murphy would Indicate that
such a policy is wanted by his oppo-
nents,
Within the next two or three years