East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-12-03
Declares for Mayor Murphy's
Reelection and Strikes at
Peanut Politicians"
MAYORALTY FIGHT NOT
A PARTISAN ISSUE
Prominent Republican Leader Is
Against Move II Inject Prtisun-
ship Into Contest-Mants New
Electric Company 10 Comc--Bycrs
Should Not BE Involved In Issue
Resents Attack on FitzGcrald.

Pendleton. oregon, Dec. 3, 1909
editor East Oregonian. Permit me
to say, 1t is unwise, In my judgment,
TO engender strife and i'll feeling and
to inject partisan politics into the ap-
preaching municipal election. The
people should be encouraged to look
to their own interests, and to
choose from among the aspirants the
best qualified men for the offices. in
their gift The object of the voter
should be to promote the welfare of
the city and its inhabitants, to secure
efficient, and economical service, and
the sane and reasonable enforcement
OF the law. The man trained and ex-
gperlenced in conducting the city's
business should be preferred TO an un-
tried and Inexperienced one. The
mere fact that a man has accumulat-
ed money I'm private business is not
always safe criterion by which to
Judge of his qualifications for the sue
cessful management OF the finances
of a public office.
For nearly eighteen months, un ter
the guidance Of Mayor Murphy. the
city has been forced to run without
the large revenue formerly derived
from saloon licenses. Yet. not dol
lor's worth of script has been issued
during that time. Few men could
have. accomplished this difficult task,
and he was only enabled to do so Hy
reason of his intimate knowledge of
all the business interests OF the CITY,
which made him the most successful
financial representative who has ever
occupied the office of mayo. At this
criticak stage in the city's history, |
feel she should have a cool head. ana
a steady head to guide her for an
unwise or extravagant ddministra-
tion would endanger public conf
dence. create distrust and increase
the burden OF taxation beyond the
means of her inhabitants. During his
incumbency he has given Pend 'eton a
magn fcent city hall. \ splendid new
bridge across the Umltilla river, kept
the city on cash basis, an l enforced
the laws as well as they could reason
ably be enforced with the revenues 1T
hand.
Partisan politics can never restore
vested rights and private ownership II
once destroyed. | am convinced the
people of Pendleton are making a SER
ious mistake. one that it will be diff
ficult to remedy, If they permit an
unprovoked attack to be made upon
the Byers MILL the Oldest and most
important industry of the city, an IN
dustry that, with its progressive foun-
der. contributed materially to the
growth and development of Pendle-
ton. When he is gone and unable
longer to defend his rights 1t is unjust
t. his widow and heirs that, to further
the political ambition of any man in
the campaign, this growing enterprise
should be threatened with the loss or
the destruction Of its most essential
right the power by which It has been
opcrated from the time OF It's found
ing to the present
I cannot persuade myself, that any
policy. which seeks the destruction of
property rights or interests, is sound
or safe. In my Judgment. the mere
advocacy Of such n doctrine Is the
commencement of anarchy for the
stability of organized society depends
upon the protection of property rights.
The Northwestern Gas and Electric
company Is n heavy investor in PEN
dleton IT has its franchises and prop
erty interests and should be accorded
the fullest protection under the law.
However, it is not to the interest of
Pondleton or her people, that we
should build up the Northwestern Gas
and Electric company to the exclusion
of all others. Competition is health
ful. 1t means progress and improve
ment. Two mercantile establishments,
two banks, two newspapers and two
doctors are far better for community
than one, the more the better. Port
land or Seattle did not become great