Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-06-29

by their own subserviency and stu
pidlty fallen into a false and fool
ish position, the Republican legisla
tors would better preserve such rem
nant OF respect as remains to Their
by keeping faith. oregon has now
been under the direct primary rule
for something more than three years
and already the system has destroyed
all wholesome political organiza'
ton and made such chaos OF state
politics as completely to destroy Its
responsibility and dignity. Incl
! dentally It has eliminated Oregon's
standing and influence In the United
States senate. Indeed, It has done
worse than this, for It has sent to
the senate one man (Senator Bourne,
and we agree with him here) who
acknowledges no responsibility to
party or fixed political principle, and
Il is in the way of sending another
who directly and avowedly stands
for principles at odds with the opin-
ions and sentiments OF the state. To
this practical notification of fixed
principles and purposes In politics
have certain quack doctors OF polit-
ical science brought the State OF Or
egon."
Now this Is great argument for
anybody but an Imperialist, isn't IL?
Directly and avowedly stands for
principles at odds with the opinions
and sentiments OF the state" Four
times has Geo. f. Chamberlain car
ried the state OF Oregon against the
Republican candidate, and the edi-
tor OF the Argonaut calls, II con-
trary to the sentiment of the state
he does not believe In majority rule.
so pray tell us. Mr.. Holman, what
you really do believe in?
For the purpose OF placing the po-
litical question in oregon before the
people in the proper light we re-
publish the following article from
the able editorial pen of r. Hofer,
Of The Journal, Republican paper
publisher at Salem, Oregon:
while political parties are not as
important to the people as they once
were. II Is still worth While TO dis
cuss the duty of the Republican
party In oregon.
at has been rather a government.
of the Republicans who got into Of
fice in state affairs In the name of
the party for their own benefit.
"They cared very little what rec
ord or impression they left behind
them so long as they got what they
wanted out of the offce.
"In our state affairs the leaders
consented to popuAstic measures but
resisted reforms like the fiat salary
law and school land reforms.
"They have resisted the reform
embodied in Statement No L, which
was intended to cure the abuses OF
corrupt senatorial elections.
They have impressed the people
with a strong desire TO get back to
the old rotten system which has
been universally condemned.
"The duty of the Republican party
is to get right on these questions. II
is a fundamental principle of Re-
publicanism to abide by the will OF
the majority
''If, after having embodied popn.
list!c measures upon the statute
books and in the constitution, they
want TO repearl them, let them say
so and not assail their own creations
by indireetion.
1t should be observed that the con-
demnation or the reform measure,
in the last Republican
state convention have all been enact
ed by the people.
"The indirect thrust at the Direct
Primary are answered by election of
a Statement No. legislature.
"The denunciation of the recall,
and other proposed measures In that
platform are met with their enact
nent by the people.
'The condemnation by party lead
,rs of direct election of senators by