Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-09-02

duced, Senator Abraham went on,
"at the last session of the legislature.
Il was defeated. It was not to make
a blue or drastic law, but simply
because the present law had been set
aside.
"There are but one or two states
thet have no Sunday closing law We
don't realize the Importance of what II
means to have a Sunday law. think
that you, gentlemen, are as much in
terested in having our Sunday law
preserved as you are in the preserva-
lton of the republican party. Granted
It is observed here, but It is not OBJ
served elsewhere and If this keeps on
we shall soon have no Sunday, as is
the condition in France today. Two
years ago Italy had no Sunday law.
Italy has now and l was told at the
last session of the legislature that
while there was dissatisfaction for
one or two Sundays, now there is
nothing but unbounded satisfaction.
1t was when he began to talk on
the inroads upon and depletions from
the ranks of the republican party that
the senator became even more
earnest.
He told the old story from Greek
mythology of how Mercury stole Apol-
los sheep leading, or rather drag
ging them by their tails from the
cavern in which they were. By this
means the sheep left no tracks and
could not be traced as there was
nothing to show they had left the
cave.
Members of the republican party
are being dragged tail foremost from
that party" then asserted the guber-
Material candidate None seems to
know when it is done and only Mr..
Bourne and Mr.. U'Ren seem to know
Just how it is done. The ranks of the
party are being depleted in a most
mysterious way and probably no one
but these gentlemen could tell us the
reason"
AS a remedy for this situation
Senator Abraham urged consolida-
tion of the ranks of the party, a gen
eral prL-together' movement. Hel
believed, he said, in government by
the party and CT the party. He
thought the people should control the
party an rule, but through the
party.
The Hughes Plan.
He illustrated this by the effects
Of an amendment such as he proposes
to the direct primary law on the lines |
Of the Governor Hughes bill. ByI
means of this amendment, at the
primaries by means of committeeman
10 form state and county committees |
would be placed on the ballot by petit
ion. These committeeman, when |
elected would have the right to |
designate officers for the various
state and county offices. Men so
designated would then be able to go
)n the ballot without petitions. Their |
SO doing would not prevent others
going before the electors by means
If petitions and by such means get
ing on the ballot.
But on the nominees of the com
nittees the party would be able to
There would be no hole
nd corner methods, the committees
would meet publicly and elect vival
oce. There could be no charge of
and hiding of the manner
n which the votes were cast.
"As things are at present" then
ontended the speaker, there is prac-
ically no difference between demo-
rat and a republican. At least only
ne man in 100 has the nerve to call
imself nominee of the party after
e gets the nomination.
In these effective words the SEN
NOl pdlu MS ltopNNto " Nht NOhlh7 |
e offlceholders Of the shllly-shallyl |
rider.
Senator Abraham showed he did
.ot agree with the assembly. The
ssembly candidates" he said, and
y them l mean men such as Senator
lower,nan and other principal nom
nees. lHve showed by their dechrI-
lens they do not want to amend lno
rimary law. Why not? If 1t is
ood thing It ought to be done away
18th. To legalize the assembly an
should be made to the
rimary law.
whether l win this campaign or
'hether l lose, l am still going to
rye an amendment to the law on the
mes of the Hughes bill"
Senator Abraham was clean cut and
lrclble in his arguments lie made
most favorable impression and
lany members of the audience stop !
ed while TO congratulate the :
peaker and to pledge their support
An Awful Eruption.