The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
Bx LANES B. MORROW.

Earle chamberlain. a democrat from
Portland. was sworn in as a member OF
the United State Senate. watchful men
In HIS party are already wondering II he
will develop into a candidate for Presl-
dent
The oregon situation has been called
anomalous Extraordinary would be a
better and more understandable term.
AS between Taft and Bryan. the State
was soundly Republican. AS between
Chamberlain and H. NJ Cake, the Repub-
lican candidate. the State was clearly
Democratic. The people in Oregon go
through the form Of voting for their
Senator's in Congress
Under the Federal Constitution Sena-
tors in Congress. as every one knows
must be chosen by the legislatures OF the
States The vote OF Oregon. consequently,
was not binding In law. Practically.
however. It had all the force and effect
OF statute. Speaking through the bal
lot-box. the voters said they wanted Taft
TO be President and Chamberlain TO be
Senator. Logically. they should have
elected a Democratic legislature IllOgi-
cally. desiring Chamberlain. they elected
a Republican legislature.
The situation was not only absurdly
anomalous. but momentarily dangerous
A Republican state had chosen a Republi-
can legislature. and had ordered the legis-
lature. naming the man. TO so outside Of
the party for a United States Senator.
The order. having no authorization what
ever IN law, was a meaningless phrase
written across the solemn pages OF the
American Constitution. Also, il was an
Unprecedented violation Of the customs
and principles Of party politics. But
Chamberlain was sent 10 the Senate. In
one sense his victory was moral In
another, il was altogether personal, and
yet the man himself. outwardly and
casually, is simply a commonplace and
respectable individual. going cheerfully
and briskly about his own affairs.
Four times, at important elections.
Chamberlain has carried Oregon. In each
instance The ticket behind him was carted
away with Autographs and banners and
other post-election rubbish. How"
asked him. 'do you manage to get the
best public offices in a Republican State.
although YOU were once a Mississippi
Depracrat?"
oh. ! 5,.1t- move about" ne answered
with a smile in the corners of his gun
metal eyes, ''and don't 60 70 sleep"
Two events. in part. interpret Chamber
lain and account for his popularity He
had settled in the frontier town OF Al
bany 10 practice his profession a man
brought suit against his own uncle
Chamberlain and his partner won the
suit for the nephew. The uncle, six
footer clothed principally in a long linen
duster. gave notice that he meant 10 kill
the other side on sight-lawyers and ali.
separately or collectively. il made no diff
ference. Chamberlain's partner left town
temporarily The nephew departed, say
ing: Il don't want any argument with
uncle. He's my blood and kin, and I
should hate Ike thunder TO kin him."
Chamberlain weighed 135 pounds He
armed himself and went quietly about his
usual business. One day al the foot OF
the outside stairs leading to his office. he
was addressed by zoo pounds of raw-boned
wrath in a frOwsy and unclean linen dus-
ter
You are a villain" the man roared in
passing.
And You Chamberlain answered. are
d. old bulldozer"
The man turned and walked back. ner-
vOusly pulling meanwhile at the tight Ia
pei of his duster Uncle" the nephev
had once said in warning, lis dangerous
when he works with his coat collar. He
gets as close as ~ can and then. letting
go with his right. delivers his famous
short-arm punch. After that he performs
a war dance on the breastbone Of his ad-
verSary."
Chamberlain saw the blov- sts~+ 81
ducked- The next instant his arms were
wrapped about the huge body Of his enc
my Both men had pistols in their pOck-
cts, but neither was in position 20 reach
his weapon. Persons in the street van
ished simultaneously. There was some
wrestling. the big man trying to get free
of the little one. Suddenly Chamberlain
let go his hold. jumped back and drew his
revolver. Put up your hands, he
shouted. Put them upr' he repeated
and his pistol clicked. The arms of the
bully went into the air Then Chamber
lain made "A speech. He was still talking
when the bully's son. decent young fel-
low, having been called IN a hurry. dis
armed his father and took him home
Since then the people OF Albany and Of
Oregon have never been doubtful con-
cerning Chamberlain's courage few
years later he proved in a striking way
that he was also honest
A bank had been organized in .AIbanv
Chamberlain had very little money but
his name meant a good deal in the com
munity. He subscribed for a few shares
in the bank and was put on the board Of
directors. Later the bank was wrecked
through the incOmpetency or cupiditv of
its managers. A good many poor people
lost all the money they had saved. We
thought the bank was sound" they said.
because George Chamberlain was one
Of the directors"
As the story is told in Oregon by men
Of all political parties, Chamberlain
moved away from Albany and settled in
Portland that he might build up a law
practice In a large city. ard pay the debts
that he felt were attributable 10 him.
morally, II not legally. He lived plainly.
denied himself both rest and diversion.
and prOspered in his profession. In the
end he paid the depositors Of the broken
bank at Albany the sum Of $4,000. which
included not only the amount that had
been lost in each instance, but also the
interest
You were born" I said to him. "on
cotton plantation near Natchez. in
Mississippi Why did you remove to
Oregon?"
Because I was poor We lost heavily
in the war, our slaves getting their free
dom, and the Federal and Confederate
soldiers taking away our live stock and
carrying of everything that was portable.
However. they did not burn our build
ings. Ny father was born in Delaware,
and was graduated in medicine from
Jefferson College. in Philadelphia. Al
though planter in Mississippi he active
" practlced his profession both in the