Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-08-05
ASSEMBLY
is SCORED
BY BOURNE
OREGON'S SENIOR MEMBER OF
UNITED STATES SENATE DE-
CLARES N A SCHEME OF
POLITICAL BOSSES TO DOMI-
NATE STATE ELECTIONS.

in so-called assembly is the first
step toward the restoration of the
convention system and the over
throw of direct legislation, direct
nominations and other progressive
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 corrupt methods so prevalent
in the past should join .in defeating
every candidate who seeks or ac-
cepts an assembly endorsement. By
such determined action efforts to re-
vive political machines can be most
effectively ended.
The assembly movement did not
have it's origin in a general popular
demand. On thh contrary, the plan
was devised by would-be political
bosses who thoroughly canvassed the
state, enlisted the aid of former
political leaders wherever assistance
could be secured and by constant
agitation and persistent urging in
duced few persons in many pre-
cincts to designate delegates to the
county assemblies. Only by this
means could a semblance of popular
selection of delegates be maintained
and it is notorious that in many in
stances the number of voters pres
ent was less than the number of dele
gates chosen, thus demonstrating
that the assemblies thus composed
cannot be representative of public
opinion. Political bosses are at
tempting to force Oregon Republi-
cans to accept dictation from an un-
desired assembly made up of dele
gates chosen by a relatively small
number of voters.
In other words, coterie of would
be political doctors has declared the
people of Oregon to be suffering
from ills purely imaginary and en-
ployed themselves to prescribe a
remedy. They also assume the right
to mix the dose and expect the peo-
pie to swallow it without grimace.
Later, they, will expect the people to
pay the bill in the form of legisla-
tion for special interests and dis
tribution of political rewards. I'm
less / mistake the temper and in
telligense of the people of Oregon,
the dose will be refused, the pre-
scription will be declined and. there
will be no bill to pay.
Lacking the courage to make a
direct assault upon 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 sue
cessful. Their pretention of allegi-
ance to the direct primary law is but
the kiss which precedes betrayal Of
their master, the paople of Oregon.
In an attempt to fortify their posi-
tion they quote Governor Hughes, of
New York, as favoring an assembly
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 thF people desire the Ore
gon law amended by restoring the
convention system. They are not
willing to trust the intelligence If
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 hope of
reinstating themselves in power,
have tried to select as candidates
men who are as free as possible from
objection on personal grounds. They
hope thus to accomplish a double
purpose, secure the assistance of in
fluential citizens and deceive the
peoples generally as to their ultimate
objects. But the principle at stake
is of vastly more importance than
the personal interests of any indl-
vidual. The issue involves the right
of the members Of party to select
their candidates without dictation
from a party boss who is willing to
spend time and money necessary to
build up a machine organization.
It is fruitless for adyocatfR of the
assembly plan to assert that there
is no Intention to restore the evils
of former days. Wherever irrespon-
sible political machines exist, mis-
representative government obtains
Only by making all public servants
responsible directly to the people
and to them alone, can best service
be secured. An obligation to
party boss or TO manipulators Of
conventions is inconsistent with
faithful service in the interest Of all
the people.
Voters who have lived long in Ore
gon need not be told of the evils Of
the convention system in this state.
Those who have in recent years made
their homes among us have observed