The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-11

THE LEGISLATURES MET IN SEES
SION TO-DAY AND EITHER
CHAMBERLAIN OR FULTON
TO BE ELECTED SENATOR.
Special to the World.

Special to the World.
Salem, Ore, Jan. 11.-With the
eyes of the nation focused upon it,
with the voters of this State, in
particular, awaiting the outcome
with keen interest, the Oregon leg
islature convened today for a forty
Iday session with the prospect of be-
ing the scene of the most extraorii-
nary senatorial contest ever held in
any legislative hall in the country.
Nowhere has more unique situa-
ton grown out of a fight for a seat
in the United States senate ever de-
veloped. This is true because of
the fact that both branches of the
Oregon legislature, which is over
wherlmingly republican, are facing
the proposition of giving the senate
rial plum to a democrat, George f..
Chamberlain, now governor of the
state and the peoples choice for the
high position Otherwise they must
repYdiate the pledges to the voters
and elect republican.
In either event an interesting
chapter will be written in political
history
Present indications are that every
one of the SO legislators elected on
Statement No. l." which provides
for the election of United States SEN
ators by the vote of the people, will
stand by their pledge and send Cham
berlain to the upper house of Con-
gress, although the pill will be bit
ter one to swallow.
From the time Gov. Chamberlain
defeated Judge H. M. Cake, his re-
publican opponent, at the last gen.
eral election in June until the pres
ert day the contest has been re-
p1ete with exciting features in po-
litical war.
First of all, Judge Cake defeated
Senator Charles w. Fulton, whose
term soon expires, in the primaries.
The Fultonites then raised the cry
that scores of democrats registered rs
republicans SO that they could elect
Cake, thinking the latter would be a
weaker candidate against Chamber
lain in the general election hu Fut-
tor.
But the big surprise to the repub-
lican leaders came when the count
ing Of the ballots revealed the cleo
ton Of Governor Chamberlain. dem
cclat, in a state which has always
been considered safely in the repub-
iicap column. The governor has had
no opposition in the democratic pri-
4: :ries.
Perhaps thu greatest shock .: ~
was occasioneI '.v the Discovery
TIA: SO legs l a-s pledged tn ,,'e
fo7 the peopl''' ca, ice for the tTat-
s. States seaa: fsj been cleo ~
That meant that unless these law
makers repuiiated their pledges,
that the Oregon legislature, which
has seventy-seven republican and
thirteen democratic members, must
give the toga to a democrat. There
seems to be little doubt they will do
it, as Chamberlain adherents assert
the pledged members would not dare
to violate the promise they made to
the voters and expect any more ia
vors at their hands.
However, in the face of strong
public sentiment favoring Governor
Chamberlain, the Fulton supporters
think this will be done that either
Fulton will retain his seat in the
senate or republican will be
elected in his place.
AS a last resort Senator Fulton il,
said to have appealed strongly to
President-elect Taft and Frank
Hitchcock, chairman of the repuhli-
can national committee, for assist
ance, pointing out to them that it
would be against the very principles
of the republican party to participate
in the election of a democrat to the
senate. 1t is evident that Taft did
not give Fulton any announcement.
Further national Importance was
attached to the Oregon contest
when President Roosevelt on the oc-
casion of Gov. Chamberlain's recent
visit 70 the capital, greeted him as
1.-The next senator from Oregon. -
This incident disheartened the re-
publicans of this state to a great ex-
tent, but it is apparent here that they
will be prepared to spring some sort
J of a surprise on their opponents
when the time for voting arrives.
One rumor in circulation today is