The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-06

Senator Chamberlain and myself"
said senator Bourne in the course Of his
speech. were selected by the people and
elected by the legislature under the pro-
vision OF this primary law Opponents of
popular government, and especially Of
the election Of I nited States Senators by
a direct vote OF the people, have bitterly
assaied Statement No. / of our law be
cause a legislature overwhelmingly Re
publican elected my colleague. who was
a candidate selected by the Democratic
party and nominated by the whole cleo
torate Of the State as the peoples choice
OF our State for United States Senator.
Upon reflection I think every intelligent
man who is honest with himself must
concede that this fact. instead Of being
the basis Of a criticism. is the highest
kind OF evidence as TO the efficacy Of the
law, and every advocate Of the election
Of United States Senator's by a popular
vote must realize that Oregon has
evolved plan. through its Statement
No. provision Of It's primary law,
wherein in effect the people enjoy the
privilege OF selecting their United States
Senators and, through the capitalization
Of public opinion. the legislative ratihca-
ton OF their action.
Pledged to Carry Out Peoples VIII
"The Oregon legislature consists OF
ninety members, thirty in the senate and
sixty in the house, forty-six making the
necessary majority on full attendance for
the election of United States Senator
Fifty-one members out of ninety Of the
legislature which elected my colleague.
Senator Chamberlain, were subscribers
To Statement No. l. making on joint bal
lot a majority OF six out Of a total Of
ninety members. All Of these ffty-one
members subscribed 20 Statement No.
pledge voluntarily, and il was so sub
scribed to by them from a personal belief
in the desirabllity Of the popular election
OF United States Senators and FOR the
purpose Of securing for themselves from
the electorate preferment in the election
TO the office sought. The consideration in
exchange for such preferment was 20 be
by them. as the legally constituted rep
resentatives OF the electorate I'm their be-
half the perfunctory confirmation Of the
peoples selection of United States Sena-
tor as the choice might be ascertained
under the provisions OF the same law by
which the legislators themselves secured
nomination 10 office
ITO illuminate the situation further.
will state that IN the primaries held IN
April 1903. II. VI. Cake received the Re
publican nomination for United States
Senator and my colleague, Senator Cham
berlain. then governor OF the State. re-
ceiyed the Democratic nomination for
United States Senator. At the general
election In June, Senator Chamberlain
defeated Mr.. Cake. Notwithstanding tho
State was Overwhelmingly Republican.
thereby developing from the Democratic
candidate into the peoples choice for
United States Senator. The normal Re
publican majority in Oregon I think is
from fifteen TO twenty thousand.
Republicans sous ht to Discredit Law
with full recognition Of Gov. Cham
berlains ability and fitness for the Of
fee the fact that for nearly six years
he made the best governor Oregon ever
had, and, considering that. undoubtedly
he is the most popular man in our state.
deem 1t but Just TO the law. and
proper answer 20 the criticism Of enemies
Of the law that It destroys party lines
and integrity. to state that in my opinion
Senator Chamberlain received the votes
OF the law who believed that in selecting