The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-19
PLEDGES HOLD.
Governor Chamberlain, Demo-
crat Governor of Oregon
Elected to United States Senate
by Republicans.
WAY HAS BEEN FOUND
For the People to Choose Mem
bers of Upper House.
Other States Likely to Follow
Lead of Oregon.

Salem, Ore, Jan. Ex-Governor Geo.
E. Chamberlain was elected United
States senator on the first ballot to
succeed Senator Charles w Fulton
Although Chamberlain was the peo-
pies choice for United States senator
and there were enough members of the
legislature pledged to elect him, a de-
termined effort has been made for
months past to defeat him. Senator
Charles w. Fulton whom Chamberlain
will succeed, has, it is alleged, repeat
edly urged the legislature to elect a Re
publican instead of a Democrat despite
the fact that a majority of the men,
bers were pledged to the peopIa to vote
for Chamberlain. Eastern political in
fiuences are alleged to have interfered
in the Oregon senatorial situation and
even the assistance of President-elect
Taft, and Frank H. Hitchcock, chair
man of the Republican national COM
mittee has, it is said been solicited.
Various members of the United States
senate have been called on, but have
declined to ask Oregon legislators to
violate their pledge.
Tremendous Interest.
A peoples lobby assembled at Salem
from every section of the state and
the component parts of this deter
mined apparently to see that the
pledged members abfded by their OBJ
legations to vote for Chamberlain.
The breaking of these pledges might
have led to an unpleasant situation, for
extreme measures were advO Gated by
the ardent champions of political re-
form in oregon.
Failure to elect Mr.. Chamberlain
probably would have resulted in the
recall being invoked on those state
ment No. 1 members who violated
their pledge to the people.
II Solves {. Big Problem.
The election of Chamberlain solves
the problem of electing senators by
popular vote without infringing upon
the provisions of the constitution of
the United States. While Senator
Jonathan E. Bourne and former Sena-
tor Frederick Mulkey were elected by
a Republican legislature and under the
same system which is being used in
Chamberlain's case, the real test came
for the reason that Bourne and Mulkey
are Republicans and Chamberlain is
Democrat.
law political parties nominate a can
didate as the choice of the party, for
United States senator. For the NOM
inee of the Republicans in the last
election Senator Fulton was defeated
by Harry NJ. Cake, Republican, al
though oregon is a Republican state,
by overwhelming majority.
Candidates Had Three Choices.
Candidates for the legislature had
the choice of three political platforms.
They could subscribe to statement
No. 1, statement No. 2, or run un-
pledged Statement No. l was
pledge to vote in the senate for the
candidate receiving the highest num-
Der of votes irrespective of his politl-
cal affiliation. Statement No. was
a promise to vote only for the candi-
date of the party and not the peoples
choice. :.
apDsrent from the complexion of the legis-
lature, for of its ninety members, 81
mostly Republicans, subscribed to state
ment No. l. thus binding themselves to
vote for the popular choice, who In this
case is Chamberlain. a Democrat; is ms
gave Chamberlain joint ballot SIX more
Votes than were needed to elect him.
OF Widespread Effect.
On the result of the Oregon experiment
in selecting United States senator by pop
Mar vote expressed by the people ana ex-
ecuted by the legislature, may depend the
attitude of several other states now con-
templating the adoption OF oregon
primary laws.