The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-17
GANG RULE AGAIN
THREATENS IN
OREGON
Ex-senator Fulton Leads the Attack
On the Direct Primary--Voters
Idly Watch Machine Reeapture
Portland.
Interests That Were Completely De
moralized Year Ago Prepare To
Regain Control of State.

state possessed OF almost ever! kho" y
safeguard against gang rule. allowing
itself TO drift idly toward II afteF nav
ing delivered itself only recently from
gang rule. through the vigorous Weld
ing by the people OF weapons de
signed for use against IT,
That is Oregon.
II was a little less than year ago
that the people OF oregon demoralized
the political machine that had dictai-
ed their political affairs 10 sun itS
leaders since the days OF Herman and
Mitchell and the old Oregon land fraud
ring, jerked its leader out OF the
United States senate and forced Re
publican legislature 20 put in his place
Mississippi Democrat. That wa
last January. The leader was Senator
Chas. W. Fulton. The Democrat was
Gov. Geo T. Chamberlain. now Sena-
tor Chamberlain.
After that, possessed as she was or
the direct primary. the initiative and
referendum. the recall. the direct cleo
ton OF United States senator's with
Mitchell but memory, and with pro
portiona representation and single
tax and u lot or other fine things Just
ahead, Oregon looked safe.
More than that. oregon felt safe.
and feeling safe she Went 10 sleep Or
went about her business without tax
ing that old broken politica, gang in
70 consideration.
Fulton Comes Back.
Most OF the people didn't notice or
didn't care much II they aid notice,
when. about the time OF the election
OF Chamberlain. Fulton came back 10
Portland. retired by the popular vote
Fulton found several things in Port
land. He found the peoples guard
down. He found. too. = very much
disgruntled and discouraged collection
of erstwhile machine politicians
Among them was JOS. simon. one time
United states senator This collection.
though discouraged was wide awake.
The PEOPLE rad retired them. for
abundant cause. ard there VS. 20
chance 10 raise the banner OF the G..
O p. and ro2t into Office on a national
Majority. il was a direct primary
ard initiative and referendum state
they were 81 l. looked like a hope
less rrobler bat they were willing ~
listen 10 ANYBODY who thought ne had
a way cut
The erstwhile machine politicians
were nor the onlv worried ores. Re
evident determination % the people -
run their oEn Affairs was a source 81
not a little unhsp piness % the co-2or
atoms. II looked Tor awhile as though
they would have 70 pay their Just
share Of the taxes and &C. their fran
chises from the people. ana generall~
be content with only 20 per cen, proa-
q year unless The game could be play
ed as 1t was IN the old days.
Pu. Heads Together.
Fulton and Simon and the Portland
Railway Light & Power Co. fIIe ore
gon transportation. power and lisht
monopoly, and the Southern Pacific
lobbyists. and the lieutenants o. the
Herrin machine and the meat trust
and the telephone monopoly put their
heads together while Fulton produced
his idea
Pretty soon. leading Republicans %
&c state decided that the only way 70
secure representative municipal
party ticket for Portland was 70 have
an Assembly" OF the party and 70
nominate straight Republican
ticket. The delegates were chosen IN
the same old way. the usual routine
was gone through with the same Old
way and Simon was nominated for
Mayor. with complete city ticket OF
machine politicians.
Remember. this was IN stare
where the party voters are supposed
to choose then nominees al primary
election insrpad % at q convention.
But this ticket. under the guise ~ the
regular Republican ticket won. At
the primaries and az the general cleo
ton. Just because il bore the name
Republican That was because the
people had their guard down Re.
publicans. thew didn't have the inter
est and ildnt take the time 10 look
behind the ticket They had their
guard up when Fulton tried 20 beat
Gov. Chamberlain for the senatorship
That's why he failed.
The municipal election in Portland
was the start What Portland viii
swallow. the state won't make a face
over Is the evident theory OF the
machine, which is now planning. un-
der that bright idea OF Fulton 10 use
the same system in state politics. and
by a state assembly" 20 give the old
ring the control In the state that Il
gained in Portland when the Simon
ticket went through.
This means a determined assault on
the direct primary.
When Portland finally comes out OF
her reverie. yawns stretches herself
and proceeds to take an inventory OF
what has happened since Fulton and
MS crowd were unceremoniouslv
kicked out last January. Il IL not at
all impossible that she will find the
same old gang in charge and the way
out OF the wilderness as intricate and
difficult as II ever was.