East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-09-20
Oregon Senator Issues State :
ment Condemning Machine
Politicians of State.
DENIES CHARGES THAT HE
HAS SUBSIDIZED PRESS
Commends Progressive Newspapers
for Great Assistance I'm Disseminat-
ing Information Concerning Candi-
dates-Denies He Has Paid Any
Newspaper 10 Take Up Fight
Against ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS His Ex-
pendltures-Defines Real Issue.

Portland, Sept. 20.-"Notwithstand-
ing the entire lack Of organization,
the anti-assembly campaign has been
admirably conducted" said Senator
Jonathan Bourne, jr.. today, in a
statement issued to the press. "The
progressive newspapers, the grange
ana the labor leaders, together with
candidates who stand for progressive
laws. have done Splendid work and
the election returns will show that the
work has not been done in vain.
Naturally the greater part Of the
work has fallen upon the progressive
newspapers, for the campaign is
largely one Of information. This is
a fight of the people against political
bosses and machines and all that is
necessary Is that the people shall be
advised which candidates stand for
the machine and which are advocates
of truly popular government. There
can be no doubt how the people will
vote IL they know the attitude OF the
various candidates.
Unfortunately some of the as
sembly candidates have been Sc
ashamed of their position and so dis
honest in their methods as to pose as
friends of the direct primary. hence
II has fallen largely to the newspapers
to show their real attitude and ex-
pose the deception. The courage
patriotism and loyalty to principle dis
played by progressive newspapers in
this work merits the highest COM
mendation.
Denies Charges.
Efforts have been made by dis
honest newspapers and public speak
ers to frighten advocates of the direct
primary and statement No. / by as
sertions that am using a "slush
fund" for the purchase of newspaper
Influence. So far as / am personally
concerned. this, like all other false.
hoods about me, would go unanswer-
ed. I deem It but justice to the pro-
gressive newspapers and progressive
workers generally. however, to make
this declaration:
IT have not pair. promised or loan
ed a dollar directly or indirectly to
any newspaper, candidate or public
speaker during this campaign, except
my usual subscriptions to five daily
papers and the purchase Of fifty eI-
ira copies Of one issue of an evening
paper. do not own a dollars inter-
est in any newspaper.
ION my return to oregon last fall
quickly realized that an effort
would be made through the assembly
plan to restore under a new name
the old three-shell game of politics
for the personal benefit Of disgrunt-
led politicians and special interests
On October IS, 1909. issued an ad-
dress to the people Of Oregon ex-
posing the efforts and methods of
the assemblyites. At an expense of
less than $1,000 I had printed and
mailed about 10000 copies of that ad-
dress to as many citizens Of Oregon,
urged, and still urge, the defeat of
all candidates who sought or accept
ed an assembly nomination. Reten-
ton Of a great fundamental principle
Is of more Importance to society than
any individual or party.
IT donated a thousand dollars to an
officer of the Peoples Power league
to print and circulate my argument
and defray expenses incident to the
circulation Of petitions to submit un-
der the initiative my bill eniarging the
present scope Of the primary law and
providing for direct expression of
choice of party candidates for pres
ident and vice president, direct cleo
tion Of delegates to national conven-
tions and direct nomination Of candi-
dates for presidential electors.
ION the fifth day Of last May 1 de-
livered an address in the United