Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-01-03
CARSON NOT FRIENDLY.
SENATOR BOURNE SURE TO LOSE
ONE VOTE IN 1918.
Marion County Holdoyer Senator
Expresses His Sentiments in Reply
to Jonatllan's Recent LETTER

That United States Senator jon
athan Bourne, Jr., may expect to lose
the vote of at least one holdover
State Senator when time for voting on
Bournes recollection comes up, and
that the State Senator will be an active
opponent, not only in the Legislature,
but during the coming two years, is
evidenced by a reply sent to Mr..
Bourne by Senator John A. Carson, of
Salem, in answer to acommunica-
tion from the senior United States
Senator.
The reply of Mr.. Carson is as fol-
lows:
although not understanding why
you should communicate with me con-
cerning the course pursued by you at
the last election and the views you
entertain on some public questions,
nevertheless acknowledge receipt OF
the matter you mailed to me on the
I'd inst. On that date you favored me
with two newspaper clippings and a
copy of your sworn statement filed
by you in the office of Mr.. Benson
State Secretary of Oregon, last month.
One of those newspaper clippings is
from the Washington Herald, dated
December 1, and another is from the
Washington Star, dated November Z,
last.
Sworn Statement.
"In your sworn statement, I notice
that you candidiy state that you ex-
pended money to aid in the defeat of
Assembly Republican candidates.
From this, all of us understand that
you now acknowledge publicly that
you sought the defeat of certain Re-
publican candidates and the election
of Democrats and mugWumps in their
place. l was indorsed by the County
Republican assembly held in this city
in July last for the Office of State Sen
ator from this County, and later on in
September was nominated at the gen.
eral primary election, and thus be-
came entitled to the support of all
Republicans; nevertheless, you spent
time and money in an effort to defeat
me, and then afterwards have the as
surance to rub it in by sending the
stuff above mentioned.
'It was not necessary for you to do
so, because / am acquainted in a slight
degree with your political record in
this state. / remember in 1896 I was
nominated for the office of District
Attorney on the Republican ticket.
q 4,
was chairman of the State Central Re-
publican committee, and you were sec
retary You were ambitious then to
control the Legislature. At that time
we all recollect that the Republican
party was split asunder upon the ques-
ton of gold standard. Everybody re-
members that you championed the
cause of free silver. Notwithstanding
the fact that you were secretary of
our state committee, and thus in honor
bound to support the nominees of the
Republican party, you set about to ac-
complish the defeat of all of them ex-
cept those who were known in those
days as "Silver Republicans" and
sympathizers with yourself in an effort
to wreck the Republican party.
Bourne Requested to Resign.
"You remember that you were re-
quested by many of the candidates to
resign, but you declined to do so. You
in the office and devoted
plish a fusion between the Populists,
Free Silver Republicans and Bryan
as opposed to regular Re-
publicans supporting the gold stand
ard. A fusion was accomplished
against myself, and T suffered defeat
that year. Then in the late
Summer and Autumn of the same year
you came boldly out and supported
Mr.. Bryan and did your utmost to ac-
complish the defeat of our late Presi-
dent, Mr.. Mckinley.
after following Bryanic ideas and
pursuing other wild chimerical theo-
ries and discovering that the people |
would have none of them, you quietly
again dubbed yourself a Republican
and started in to run the affairs of our
party once more. When 1900 or more |
Of the leading Republicans of this
state met in a state assembly in Port |
land last Summer and adopted plat
form and selected a list of candidates
to be submitted to the people at the
general primary election in Septem-
Der following. you came out and ad-
t~fea1 hIn a1arfarv of 4aN 80. a.
for Democratic nominees rather than
the candidates of the Republican |
party. In one instance you were con-
sistent. because you followed the |
course you advised others to pursue, |
and spent money in an effort to defeat
these candidates, and now admit that
fact.
1T would be interesting to know
what good you have accomplished for
he people of Oregon during the past
Il years. Do you believe that the /
people of Oregon are under the I'm
preston that you have prohted them
IN the least degree by advocating those
wild-eyed fads about which you occa-
sionaIly preach to newspaper reporters
N distant cities?
MOdesfy l. Displayed.
"Of course. Jonathan. 1 know your
disposition and modesty pre-
fent you from calling attention TO the
Iact that under the old style Of poll
les Oregon was represented in the
United States Senate by such men as
George II. Williams. J. n Dolph and /
John II. Mitchell. while under this new
lian. we have Brother Chamberlain /
Ia very good Democrat and your.
Under these circumstances and I
have. in an effort to dis