Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-12-15
Ballot Box Locked and Sealed and the Key Given to the Judges

Homer will be as nothing compared
to the number OF cities and towns
that are ready right now to claim
the distinction of being the home OF
the winners of the Capital Journal
up-to-date contest which will end at
II o'clock Saturday night. Which
is natural enough, for Homer was
exceedingly dead before any COM
munity claimed him, there are Il
large number of very live ones con-
eerned in the plebiscite which is to
confer distinction on some towns
and individuals.
1t has become a matter of more
than individual success that is now
invilved in this most notable of
newspaper contests. Not only are
individuals arrayed against eacn
other, but whole communities and
towns have gone into competition
and there is no doubt whatever that
it is being made a matter of town
pride in many places-the winning
of first honors. The element of per-
sonal interest is very nearly as
strong as the matter of political
prejudice and for that reason The
Capital Journal contest Is to the
northwest something very near akin
to an election of political impoT
tance.
Astonishing Interest.
And it may as we'll be stated right
now that the growth of interest in
the contest which is now approach
ing it's close has astonished every
body concerned The contest editor,
whose function is simply to keep the
contestants and their friends of the
Journals great family informed as
to what is going on and who has
no functions as arbiter or referee,
stands ready to confess that he is
astonished, not so much at the size
of the vote cast for individuals as
at the wide spread interest which
has developed on behalf of the COM
munities in their candidates. 1t
shows a pretty healthy state of pub
lie feeling when a great number OF
communities will make the cause of
on of their citizens the interest of
the entire body and get out and root
for her like a crowd of undergradu-
ates roofing for their football team.
And that is what it amounts to in
some cases. Not only is country az
rayed against country city against
city and village against village, but
the spirit of competition has extend
ed to rural routes, and though these
are not being organized as some of
the towns are, they are pre-empted
by certain candidates and are lining
up ,alike opposing political parties
Small boys and girls, young men
and women and mature persons of
either sex are working for their
friends in a manner that goes to
show that the world is no more re-
sponsive to the promptings OF good
feeling than it ever was
The contest editor is now in
formed of stories showing phases of
this contest which warm the cookies
of the coldest heart-but he cannot
print them for the reason that it
would not be fair to some of the
candidates. He keeps his typewrit-
er quiet only by the exercise of some
restraint and there will be good
stories to tell after it is all over.
and the wounded have been taken
out of the field.
Everybody Cannot Win.
There will be wounded. That is
inevitable. No one regrets more
than The Capital Journal that every
body cannot get a prize. Those who
have made the campaign surely
ought to be compensated. And they
will be; per cent of all money
turned in by them will be refunded
by the management But then II
there were to be rewards for every
body the spirit of competition
would not be developed If it were
not for that spirit there would be
no development of the traits that
have been brought out under the
stress of working for an object. A
certain young girl who works days
and puts in her spare time getting
votes--and that to some purpose
in spite of opposition that would be
confounded If The Capital Journa,
could tell of ii with justice to others
would not be making the CAM
paign she Is If she were sure of
prize The young lady who writes
so pathetically of how much good
such prize would bring her, would
probably not have found the
strength to make what looks like a
winning fight If she were not striv-
ing for something she wants badly.
And who will say that she will not
be the better physically and every
other way for the part she is TAX
ing in the campaign?
There are signs that It is only
now that the equitable distribution
OF the prize allotment to districts
and the possibilities that lies within
the reach of every contestant. are
coming strongly home TO the candi-
dates. When this contest was open
ed on October 23. the conditions un-
der which II was to be carried or
we're set forth with much more at !
tention TO detail than was devoted TO !
setting forth the nature and the !
value of the nrlZes 20 be aWardad |