Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18
ADVISES THE
OREGON WAY
ELOQUENT PORTLAND DIVINE
TALKS TO CITY CLUB
GOOD PEOPLE MUST VOTE AND
RUN FOR OFFICE
If Reformers viii Concentrate Their
Work Bad Men Cannot Get
Into Office. Declares
Rev. Mr.. Broueher

Portland divine who believes in every
body taking an interest in politics,
talked to the City club yesterday on
the necessity for the reform elements
taking an active part in at all stages of
campaigns and uniting on a set of men
instead OF scattering their forces and
thus letting bad men slip into office.
lie told how in Oregon rings had
peen smashed and people in Republic
can strongholds made to sit I'D in
amazement when their candidates wont
ooWn before an aroused public senti-
ment.
said the reverend speaker:
am interested in the welfare of
our cities. The future of our nation
depends upon the future of the city, In
our country the people are expected to
rule.
Up to the People
!. The character of our government
81 eIelore, depends upon the character
OF the citizen. The people USUALLY have
just as good a government as thew de-
serve. "' '"eS ue-
Recently man of somewhat doubt
Iul character was elected to office in
cortland, Ore, in spite of the opposi
ZION or the reform element to him.
:. some one asked me how felt about
NpitSu lIldl WAS Dprfept1V
happy; that 1 believed in the rule If
the majority and in the recommenda-
.ion given by Abraham Lincoln to a
ings up my ieei-
-, MI Lincoln wrote: Any one who
ilkes this kind of a book will find IT
JUST the Kind of book he likes
believe it to be the duty of the
preacher and every other good citizen
TO take an active interest in politics
and thus create desire for that which
is best in the city life
me Old Testament prophets were
public men and they manifested the
ilVellest interest in public affairs.
some OF them were statesmen of the
They were preachers of national
righteousness and public morality.
Preachers Must Line Up
me preacher of today must do the
same in spite of his being accused of
pelng sensational, If he is going to be
OF the largest service to the com
munity
The gospel is the multiplication
table of the science of religion. IT
must be applied to the solution of the
problems of everyday life if it is to be
of value to the world.
The good citizen along with the
preacher has twofold duty to per-
form: first, he must develop a true type
of citizenship. and, second, he must in
terest the good citizen to take an ac-
tive part in the political life of the
city. n
IF the people are to govern there
must be developed conscience in the
officeholdcr and the voter that will
guide them in the exaltation of right
eousness
President Roosevelt said to me per-
sonally: If a man has to choose be-
tween two problems that are clear
black and white decent man will de-
eide for the white but most problems
today are two shades of gray. and 1t
takes a special wisdom to decide be-
tween the right and wrong
I'VE put metal cons ciences on our
street car conductors, we place cash
registers in our stores to remind en-
ployes to be honest
consciences for Officials
"The time has come when we will
have to place metal conscience on
our officeholders to deliver them, If
possible, from bribery and graft.
I'm the next place there must be de-
veloped a moral courage willing to do
right in suite of all opposition.
TT is the shame of our time that so
many men in public office do not dare
to be right. They had rather hold Of
flee than be right.
THE good people are largely to
blame for this.
I'VE fail to stand by and encourage
our public officials in doing right.
"rhe lawless element will damn them
If displeased and the good people will |
sit quietly by and say nothing.
Our officeholders should know that
right and |
that we will stand by them in the
doing of it..
Again, we need to develop a civic
patriotism that loves right and hates
wrong
IF people desire a wide open town
and corrupt administration they will
have it, but If the majority of the peoF
pie believe in law enforcement and
good government, then they will have
that. 1t is our duty to develop civic
pride that loves the good and hates the
evil.
Accusing Good Citizens
However, the essential thing is to
bring the good citizen into direct touch
with the political life of the city.
I'm the first place we must save our
good citizens from political ignorance.
The ! ynorant and vicious do not
want to >e redeemed from their ignor-
dnce anu VlclOuSneSS, DuL IL 10 dpSo-
lutely criminal for the good citizen to
continue to be politically ignorant.
'As usual thing good citizens know
very little about the character of men
to be elected to office; they know moth
ing about the relation of that office to
the highest welfare of the city; they
are absolutely ignorant of the whole
connection of politics with their pri-
vate and public welfare.
Most officeholders know that they
can do Just about as they please in
office, and when they come up for re-
election they can usually count on the
Ignorance of the decent voters to elect
them.
ION the other hand, the saloon man,
the gambler, the lawless element and the
of the corporation that is
seeking the public utilities know exactly
what office is to &c filled, they know the
man that is running for that office and
they get a man nominated and elected
who will favor their interests.
Do as Oregon Did
1--WE must interest the good citizen in
an active participation In politics.
1--WE have in the state of Oregon the
and referendum law. This