Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1909-01-22
PEOPLES TRIUMPH IN OREGON

HI spttr- WI WV p'"S''' $3.50"
ences that were brought to bear
in opposition, tie General Assem-
bly, of the State Of Oregon elected
Ex-Governor George E. Chamber
lain to the United States Senate.
What makes the result remarkable
is that Mr.. Cham berlain is Dem
ocrat, while in the two houses
that elected him to the Senate the
Republicans are largely in the
majority.
In Oregon the demand of the
people for the election of Senators
by the direct vote of the people
became SO insistent that the Leg
islature enacted q law submitting
the question Of the nomination OF
Senators to q general primary cleo
riou. In that section the qualified
voters of oil political parties were
permitted to participate, aud in
order TO make the result of that
primary binding upon the General
Assembly an additional PROPOSE
ton vas submitted pledging the
members of the Legislature to
support the result Of that primary.
Candidates for legislative positions
made their fights upon this issue
and a majority Of the members
elected we're those who had pledged
themselves to support the nominee
Of the general primary.
In the Senatorial primary ex'
Governor Chamberlain, Demo
crat, received n majority of the
v0tes, notwithstanding the fact
that large majority of the Gen
eml Assembly, the solid congress
sional delegation and every mem
Der of the State administration
are Republicans. The result was
such surprise to the Republican,
throughout the country that fo1
time they were dazed, but thai
condition didn't continue long
The prospect of having a Demo
crat occupy one of the seats from
Oregon in the Senate was mos'
distasteful aud the issue at once
assumed national proportions
Strenuous efforts were made o.
the Republican State machine t.
induce Republican senators ant
representatives to violate thei
solemn pledges TO the people q
Oregon and it has been charged
that the National Committee, AM
Mr.. Taft himself, had made ef
forts along similar lines. Mr.
Taft, it is only fair to say here
has denied that he had intereste'
himself in the matter.
TO the great credit Of Senate
Bourne, whr will be Mr.. Cham
berlain's colleague in the Senate
be it said that he assumed hig
position on this question and Wig
orously denounced the suggestion
that any Legislative member
should dishonor themselves an
bring reproach upon Oregon b
violating the pledges they volur
tarily assumed and the instrut
tions they received from the PEE
pie. The senatorial question WI
the foremost issue in Oregon u
to the very hour that the electio
took place, for it was known thu
powerful influences we're insid
ously ut work and the result coul
not he foretold with certainty
The election of Senator Chan
berlain, considering the circun
stances under which it VIZ
achieved, is II notable triumph {
the people in the great conte'
ever going on for the popular col
trel of the government. In tn
CAS-. the contest was SQUARED
joined between the choice Of til
people ,a,d the choice of the Stat
Republican machine. The Reput
licans had decisive majority
numerically considered, and I'll
issued presented was to dete
mine whether republican men
hers would obey the instruction
Of the people or of the machine
In spite Of all the powerful pre-,
sure brought to bear upon thel
to do otherwise sufficient nun
her Ct them stood true to prime
pie and won great victory f.