The Washington herald., 1910-10-04
BY JOHN e. LATHROP.


The East has been informed that in
Oregon the opponents of the direct prima-
ries and popular election Of Senators won
victory in the primary elections OF Sep
TENDER "A, because Jay Bowerman was
nominated for governor on the anti
primary ticket of the Republicans. The
truth Is that the direct primary and
popular election OF Senators swept the
State. and the people there administered
a rebuke TO those who sought 20 return
Oregon to the old convention and boss
controlled system.
Bowerman was the only candidate OF
the anti-primary forces; against him ran
three pro-primary candidates, who, d.
viding that vote. permitted BoWerman TO
get a plurality.
However, the real test as 20 sentiment
in Oregon was in respect to the nominees
for the legislature. and the supporters of
the direct primary nominated practically
every candidate. so that the legislature
will be virtually solid in refusing 10 emas-
culate the primary lave This is true. be-
cause, first. the Republican nominees are
for the primary; second. because the
Democratic nominees are the same; so
that there remains no possibility that the
November elections can result in aught
but maintenance Of the system OF ad-
vaneed laws which have differentiated
Oregon as sthe leader OF election reform
in the United States.
West for Primaries
Furthermore. although Bowerman re-
ceived the Republican nomination for
governor as an opponent OF direct .pri-
maries, through division OF the pro-
primary forces among three candidates.
Oswald West has been nominated by the
Democrats for governor by a heavy ma
jority over Jefferson Myers. West stands
nrmly for the direct primary. not as a
political expedience. but as a conviction
that IL is the better method That West
VIII he elected governor OF Oregon is a
reasonable assumption. His record Is one
OF cleanly living and high achievement
In official life for the people. as State
land commissioner under former Gov.
now SENATOR Chemberlain. and as mem
Der Of the State railroad commission by
appointment from the same former gov
eraor.
The situation, therefore, IS almost pre-
cisely the same as that which developed
In 1902, when George Earle Chamberlain
was elected governor OF Oregon as a
Democrat over W J. Furnish. RepubIl-
can. The Republican forces are hopeless
~ divided by the plurality nomination
OF Bowerman: the Democrats are abso-
lutely united in support Of West Back
% West will doubtless stand both SEN
ator Chamberlain. in whose school OF
political economy and action West had
his education land that school is very
popular in Oregon. and Senator Bourne.
Republican, who announced that he
would sUIp0rt Democrats. nominees. II
they were clean. able men. in the event
reaetionary nominees were put up by the
Republicans
This is written in the knowledge that.
ordinarily, Oregon's political doings would
not be regarded as OF Importance in the
more populous East: but that the nation
has watched with no little interest the
development Of the Oregon Plan" as set
forth so lucidly by Senator Bourne in his
speech May 5. 1910 in the Senate here
The extent 10 which nationwide interest
has been manifested in that Oregon
Pan may be judged by the fact that
during the five months that have elapsed
10000 copies OF that speech have been
actually sent out 10 voters in every part
OF the United States The words every
part" are used literally. inasmuch as
every State has called for these copies.
Scandals Are Absent.
Furthermore, this very primary election
which is under discussion in itself proved
the salutary character OF the Oregon
Plan" There are none of the money
scandals that formerly marked the con-
duct OF the elections in Oregon. and that
mark elections In every other State of
the Union. The limitation Of campaign
expenditures by candidates was rigidly
observed because public sentiment backs
the law which places such limitation The
only scandal arose I'm the gathering OF the
convention (called by its creators and as
sembly) that nominated the anti-primary
candidates. This was a completely con-
trOlled convention, exactly such as for
merly was the rule before the direct
primary became the lawful means OF
selecting party nominees in Oregon. And
so obviously was 1t a boss-controlled
convention that the voters registered
their population by nominating legis-
lative candidates who are for the direct
primary with virtual unanimity.
And still further proof OF these as
sertions is that every pro-primary can
didate for all other State Offices won
the nomination.