Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-07-10
SPEECH OF HAMMOND
NAMING JOHNSON

/, character of him in whose life they
come that can never be removed
The story of the poor and the inter-
este OF the common people appesi
TO him as they cannot appeal to one
who has not experienced the sorrows'
the burden and the anxiety OF pen
ury and want. The gross, the sell
nsh. the callous and the Indifferent
are worn away by the grinding
wheels OF poverty, leaving but the
refined. the gentle and tender ma
ture. sensitive to the calls OF DIS
tresyed and unhappy humanity
Creatures OF environment that we
are. how great Is the influence OF
our surroundings in those tender
wears when impressions are most
readily made and most lastingly re-
talned. In this uprising OF the peJ-
ples let our reader be n man OF the
/ people, one who has risen from the
depths and is by birth, by training
and By nautre truly son OF toll.
when the boy grew older he read
a few good books and In a quiet
country village pondered over the
great questions affecting the destiny
Of the state and OF the nation. once
convinced that the government was
beset by special interests seeking 10
obtain unholy profits from IL, slaves
OF greed and seltishness, lovers OF
power and dominion. every patriotic
Impulse in the young mans breast
impelled him TO oppose and de-
nounce these enemies OF the public
good. Believing that they sought
shelter and protection at the hands
Of the Republican party and had to
large extent, through their agents
and representatives. gained control
OF that party and OF some OF its rec
ognlzed leaders, he attached HIM
self 10 the minority party and lab
ored in Us ranks, without thought OF
omce or preferment. and with voice
and pen endeayored TO bring home
political truths TO the people OF his
native state and 10 throw light up
on the dark practices OF unfalthful
onIce-holders and public servants.
Four years ago the dominant po-
iltical party In the state OF Mime
sofa, flushed by a series OF easy VIC
tories but not held together by de-
yotlon TO any great living issue,
found itself engaged In bitter fac
tlonal qunrrels. Great chieftans had
arisen and their personal ambitions
and their contests for political SUI
premaey so engaged the attention OF
the adherents OF the Republican par
~ that encroachments upon the
rights OF the state were suffered TO
remain unchecked and the Interests
OF the state were no ylgilantly
guarded. II was the time for n
leader TO appear. one who had the
confidence OF the people OF the state.
whose integrity was unquesiioned.
whose character was stainless. whose
energy and ability we're known;
one who had made no faetional en-
emies but who had always been 10y
al In the service OF the state. From
no one section. from no one faction,
from no one class came the can for
the man of the hour. II summoned
him from his modest once. the pub
Usher OF weekly paper and around
him rallied the remnants Of the
Democratic party that had 80 often
struggled IN vain against the crush
ing force OF Republican majorities.
Reunited. Inspired with the hope OF
victory. they followed this man ana
supported him. Not 20 honor him.
not 10 sratlty his ambitions. but IN
rouse state from drowsy lnaotioa
10 energetic llfe. In that year
President Roosevelt carried the state
by a plurality greater than 10000
but the Democratic soyernor was
elected.
Two years ago he was a candidate
for reelection. His successful cf-
fort In securing reduction %
transportation charges. his success
ful campaign against timber tres
passers who had long been undls-
urbed, his Insurance reforms. his
tirelss struggles for faithful ana
efhcient service in every department
OF the state government. and his