The Washington herald., 1909-01-21
OregOn's Senatorial Election.

The people OF Oregon may be congrat-
ulated upon the failure OF attempts 10
break the force Of legislative pledges
that insured the choice Of George z.
Chamberlain as United States Senator.
More important than any partisan ad-
vantage is the vindication OF the Oregon
method OF electing a Senator by direct
vote OF the whole people. Mr.. Chamber
lain, though a Democrat Is the vOlun-
tary choice Of a majority OF the people
OF Oregon, q State which gave Taft a
plurality Of 1890 and elected legisla-
ture Republican IN both branches Under
the terms Of the Oregon primary law
the legislature may be deprived wholly
OF the power OF choice In a Senatorial
election. just as the electoral college has
been deprived Of the power TO choose a
President In each case the popular
mandate is merely registered by a body
originally intended to exercise its inde-
pendent judgment. The Oregon law ac-
complishes this result by requiring that
each candidate for the legislature shall
stand upon either one Of the subjoined
statements OF purpose:
Nc. / ! further STATE 10 the people Il Oregon
as vel 10 the people q ny legislative district
thzt during nv tam q offcs / VII always vote
fo- that candidate for United States Senator IN
Congress who has received the highest numbe- OF
the peoples votes for that position at the general
election next presiding the election q a Senator
in Congress without regard 70 ny individual pref
e7ence.
NO. During ny tern of oa5ce / shah COT
sider the vote Of the people for United States Sen
atcr n Congress As nothing more than rscom-
1nsndation. which I shall be at liberty 70 wholly
disregard If the reason for doing - SEEMS 70 ne
70 be sufficient.
Popular sentiment compelled a major
Ity Of the legislators 20 elect the famous
statement No l. by which they pledged
themselves 10 support the Senatorial
nominee receiving the highest vote a. the
state election. FIfty-three members thus
pledged were elected out Of ninety. and
al OF them cast their votes for Cham
berlain. who in June Of last year gained
a popular majority over H n Cake, the
Republican nominee. Senator Fulton. the
present incumbent, attempted not only
10 defeat the Republican nominee. but to
induce the pledged members TO break
faith with their constituents His efforts
happily failed, so FAR as legislative
pledges were concerned. although he
obtained 70 votes to Cakes T. Had he
succeeded. he would have overthrown
both the party mandate as 10 the Re
publican nominee and the popular man
date as &c the Senatorial election
double treachery that would have dis
gusted all decent citizens. The Iesisla-
ture has wisely kept faith with the
people
Oregon's precedent in this election is
likely 70 be Of far-reaching influence. It
points the way 10 nonpartisan popular
choice Of q United States Senator, and
shows how the people may effectuaIly
gain control over a legislative body now
widely believed to be under the thumb
Of partisan OF financial interests inimical
10 the public welfare The senior Oregon
Senator. Mr. Bourne, Is also a product OF
the primary. and although a Republican.
has stood firmly for the principle in
volved in the election Of Gov. Chamber
lain The oregon people have elected to
be represented in the Senate by a Re-
publican and Democrat Why not, II
these days Of obscure party differences.
II their representatives be honest and
capable men?