Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-08-05
BOURNE URGES VOTERS
TO DEFEAT NOMINEES
Nomination of Candidates by "As-
sembly" First Step Toward Old
Convention System.

(By Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr)
Nomination OF candidates for pub
lie office in so-called Assembly is
the first step toward the restoration
OF the old convention system and
the overthrow of direct legislation,
direct nominations and other pro-
gressive measures adopted by the
people Of Oregon.
All voters who believe in the right
Of the people to govern themselves
and who oppose return TO the cor
rupt measures so prevalent in the
past should join in defeating every
candidate who seeks or accepts an
assembly endorsement. BY such de-
termined action efforts to revive po-
litical machines can be most effec-
lively ended.
The assembly movement did not
have its origin in a general popular
demand On the contrary the plan
was devised by would-be political
bosses, who thoroughly canvassed
the state, enlisted the aid of former
political leaders wherever assist
ance could be secured, and by con-
stant agitation and persistent urging
induced a few persons in many pre-
cincts to designate delegates to the
county assemblies.
Not Representatives.
Only by this means could SEM
blance of popular selection of dele
gates be maintained, and it is no.
torious that in many instances the
number of voters present was less
than the number of delegates chosen,
thus demonstrating that the assem-
blies thus composed can not be rep
resentative of public opinion.
Political bosses are attempting to
force Oregon republicans to accept
dictation from an undesired assem-
]
bly, made up of delegates chosen by
relatively shall number of voters.
In other words, coterie Of
would-be political doctors have de-
clared the people of Oregon to be
suffering from ills purely imaginary,
and have employed themselves to
prescribe a remedy. They also as
sumo the right to mix the dose and
expect the people to swallow 1t
without a grimace, Later they will
expect the people to pay the bill In
the form of legislation for special in
terests and distribution of political
awards. Unless | mistake the tenn
per and intelligence of the people of
Oregon, the dose will be refused, the
prescription will he declined and
there will be no bill to pay.
Plan Indirect Attack.
Lacking the courage to make a
direct assault upon the progressive
laws which have been enacted in
| Oregon, self-constituted leaders
have planned an indirect and covert
attack, by which means they hope to
| be successful. Their pretension Of
allegiance to the direct primary law
is but the kiss which precedes be-
trayal of their master, the people Of
/ Oregon
In an attempt to fortify their posi-
tion they quote Governor Hughes
OF New York as favorIng an assem-
bly, prior to the direct primary In
that state, but they have not the
honesty to submit to the people OF
Oregon under the initiative the
question whether the people desire
the Oregon law amended by restor-
ing the convention system. They
are not willing to trust the intelli-
gence OF the people even in this
The issue presented Is not one of
/ personalities but OF principles,
Doubtless the guiding spirits OF the
assembly movement in the hopes of
rcinstatlng themselves In power
have tried to select as candidates
men who are as free as possible
from objection on personal grounds
To Deceive People.
They thus hope to accomplish a
double purpose, secure the assist
ancc Of influential citizens and de.
cclyc tho people generally as to their
ultimate objects But the principl,
at stake Is of vastly more import
aucc than the personal interests OF
any Individual Tho issue involves
the right Of the members Of n part,
to select their candidates without
dictauon from party boss who Is
wn)uE to spend time and none,
necessary to build up q machine or
sanitation
II Is tuulcss for advocates of IN,
assembly plan to- assert that thor,
is mo- intention to restore the evil
of FORMER days Wherever lrrta
non.hlr political machines exist