The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-17
THE VICTORY
OF DECENCY.
Wealth Failed to Buy the Ohio
Senatorship.
1 POLITICAL DEBT UNPAID.

From Republican Party-Election Of
Burton Credit to Buckeye Leais-
Iature-The Oregon Senatorial Race.
Ante-eIsction Promises Call For q
Dsmoer&t-Taik Of Reputation.
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
One fact stands forth from among
the masses of assertions and denials-
that the electidn of Theodore E. Bur-
ton as senator from Ohio will record
victory OF brains and high character
over mere monetary considerations
Charles r. Taft. half brother Of Presi-
dent Elect Taft. Of Cincinnati was con-
sidered for the Office solely because he
has immense sums Of money. Sepa-
rated from his filthy lucre, he would
stand forth travesty on approximate
~ ideal senatorial timber Had he
never possessed large wealth, never in
a thousand years would he have been
seriously thought Of for that position.
It is true that his blood relationship to
Tue IIcsiCtEt eISCt CONSTITUTED some
added strength to his candidacy, but
primarily his wealth. his record Of get
ting more wealth to add to that which
he Inherited, made him an element in
the Ohio senatorial contest.
Stated brutally, yet truthfully,
Charles p. Taft sought to collect from
the Republican party an account he
held, which. according to his political
ethical concepts. should be paid.
might quote from an imaginary book
on political philosophy which Charles
r. Taft (Eever) wrote:
"United States senators should be
chosen from among the wealthy men
who contribute most heavily to cam
paign funds. Such men~ both are enti-
tied to election to senatorshirs and
make the best senator's. Senatorships
should be put UP at auction. the high
est bidders to take the goods. Brains.
aptitude for statesma nship, ideal con
ceptions. etc. have no place in the
Happily. however. this sort Of man
did not win in Ohio. Perchance this
eulogy on Theodore f. Burton may ap-
~ inconsistent in one who has con-
lEntly opposed Mr.. Burton political
~. But, looking at the question from
4 plane higher than partisanship, the
ii fall nf
comment of congratulating the coun-
try that the rnoneybags was relegated
TO Its home retreat; that Burton, who,
albeit intensely Republican-partisan
II you please-won the toga and that
on March 1t will be taken from
the shoulders Of Joseph Benson Fora
ker ard 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
dalton during the past week. In an
other locality, farof 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. ffty-one of the total Of nine
u members Of that legislature pledged
openly before the election of last June
to vote in the legislature this month
for any candidate who had 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
Darle 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 hav-
ing been questioned in any responsible
quarter.
Il also transpired that large major
ity Of the members Of the legislature
were Republican,: hence their ante
election promises call for election OF
Democrat as senator by a legislative
assembly composed Of Republican
majority.
The issue had been fought cut for
three or four years The people under
stood its nature. They knew that
Chamberlain might get majority over
! Cake, 30 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 congressional
issues and elected al other state off1-
cers as Republicans throughout the
twenty-five years In which Chamber
hin had been winning these political
1oaoEs.
chamberlain's Fine Record.
NJ faint Of corruption ever discclor-