Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-12-26

cation by the legislature of the pop
ular choice of Mr.. Mulkey and Mr.
Bourne for United States Senators
marks an EPOCH IN THE POLITl'
CAL HISTORY OF OREGON. It IL
not likely that the precedent thus
firmly established will be broken
hereafter. The time of the leglsla-
ture will henceforth BE DEVOTED
TO THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE
Its only concern with the election OF
Senators will be to fulfill the consti-
tutional form by RATIFICATION
OF AN ANTECEDENT POPULAR
CHOICE.
Seldom has body of public men
given finer demonstration of 10y
atty to American principles than the
Oregon legislature gave in ratifying
promptly and decisively the popular
election OF Senators Mulkey and
Bourne. BY doing this they have
acknowledged the fundamental truth
upon which our institutions rest,
namely: that ALL POWER ULTI-
MATELY RESIDES IN THE PEO-
PIE and that whenever the people
choose TO exercise this power direct
ly Il is their right to do so. Our
legislators have also acknowledged
with noble fidelity to fact and reason
that, high as their duties may be,
ThEY ARE BUT THE SERVANTS
OR AGENTS OF THE PEOPLE, and
that the popular mandates expressed
under the forms OF law are of bind
ing obligation upon all public Off
cials. We may therefore say without
undue inslstence on it's importance,
that the ratification by the Oregon
Legislature of the popular choice OF
our senators MARKS AN EPOCH
IN THE DEVLLOPaIENT OF FREE
INSTITUTIONS"
The Capital Journal, WHICH II
A REPUBLICAN PAPER, calls the
attention OF the people OF Oregon
and all other states TO the situation
in Oregon and THE BATTLE FOR
HUMAN LIBERTY THAT Is BEING
FOUGHT HERE.
II In spite of the oregonian, which |
is now eating it's own words, and in |
spite of the Machine wing of the |
Republican party the law is sus-
cessfully maintained and established,
a great step will have been achieved |
for reform.
achieved for reform.
If under the Oregon system OF |
nominating and electing Senators |
the Republican legislature again |
seats the choice OF the people THAT |
SYSTEM AND THOSE LAWS ARE
ESTABLISHED.
Other states are already following |
Oregon in adopting our methods of
selecting and electing Senators.
We ask the readers of this paper
TO not only be prepared to fight for
their rights here in Oregon But
HELP EXTEND THE SYSTEM.
Take this copy of the Capital Jour
nal and personally interview your
representative and ask him II he is
going TO obey the laws and the in
structions of the people?
Then mark this paper and send it
to some friend in one of the other
states and help make public senti-
ment there for THE GREATEST RE
FORM THAT IL NOW BEFORE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Help sustain the Oregon system
at home and help establish it in all
the states of the Union.
Remember this: The constitution
of the United States will never be
famended for this reform until a ma
jority of the states have acted.
Oergon has acted. Iowa has acted.
Washington has acted. OTHER
STATES HAVE ACTED AND ARE
ACTING.
There is no outcry in any state
against this reform but in Oregon.
where the old. rotten machine that
has been prosecuted by Roosevelt,
wants to break down the reform and
seat one of their number.
Let all the people help establish
this reform. COME To SALEM
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS
To VOTE ON SENATOR-JAN. 10.
Call on your representatives and