Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-20

did not win in Ohio. Perchance this
eulogy on Theodore E. Burton may ap-
pear inconsistent in one who has con-
sistently opposed Mr.. Burton political
ly. But, looking at the question from
plane higher than partisanship, the
duty falls on the writer of political
comment Of congratulating the coun-
try that the moneybags was relegated
to its home retreat; that Burton, who,
albeit intensely Republican-partisan
If you please-won the toga and that
on March it will be taken from
the shoulders of Joseph Benson Fcra-
| ker and laid on another, one who has
won his position by virtue of intellect
| and not by the largeness Of his bank
| account.
The Oregon Senatorship.
In that respect the Republican party
| has been winner of deserved common
| dation during the past week. In an
other locality, faroff Oregon, it has an
issue to face which is not dissimilar.
| Shall it cOuntenance Reputation of sol
EMMY given pledges by members of
| the legislature of that state to vote
for whatever candidate received the
popular majority in the general state
election last June?
Briefly, fifty-one of the total of nine
ty members of that legislature pledged
openly before the election of last June
to vote in the legislature this month
for any candidate who had a majority
or plurality of the popular vote for
senator. Each party in the primaries
had nominated its candidate, II. NJ.
Cake winning over Senator C. w. Full
ton for the Republican nomination and
the Democratic governor: George
Earle Chamberlain, receiving the DEM
ocratic nomination.
When the general state election had
been held 1t was found that Chamber
lain had beaten Cake by about 1000,
the fact never having been disputed
nor the validity of the election hay
ing been questioned in any responsible
quarter
1t also tranSpired that large major
ity of the members Of the legislature
were Republican,; hence their ante.
election promises call for election of a
Democrat as senator ny legislative
assembly composed OF a Republican
majority.
The issue had been fought out fol
three or four years. The people under
stood its nature. They knew that
Chamberlain might get majority over
Cake, so that the majority he obtained
was not political accident. Chamber
lain has successfully been elected at
torney general, district attorney in two
state districts, the governor twice. not
withstanding the state remained Re
publican on national and congressiona
issues and elected all other state Off
@ers as Republicans throughout the
! twenty-five years In which Chamber
lain had been winning these political
honors.
Chamberlain Fine Record.
No faint of corruption ever discolor
ed his official robes; no suggestion Of
recreancy ever emanated from his BIT
ierest opponents; no scandal ever arose
from an official act Of his; his admins
tration was admirably uonpartisan Il
~ Geent even lldI sometimes mem
bers Of his own party complained tina
he did not with sufficient ardor holt
to the Jacksonian precept that ito tn
victor belong the spoils."
A movement was inaugurated by os
tensible friends of Senator Charles "
Fulton to induce. pledged members O
the legislature to repudiate thei
pledges.
~ 'The legislature is Republican,: there