Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-07-06
PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION
Continued from Page twoJ

Continued from Page twoJ
been enacted by the Republican vot-
ers OF Oregon. and in the next cam
paign go down the line together for
a national victory
Some time since 1 addressed a let
ter TO a number of prominent Repub-
licans, calling attention to the fact
that under the primary law we have
Republican organization. This
should do away with the charge that
any man or set of men are trying to
form a party Organization. The pri-
mary law provides for three men to
be chosen in each county known as
county committeeman. The law pro-
vides for a precinct committeeman TO
be chosen by the Republican voters in
each precinct. These precinct and
county committeeman are chosen for
two years. In the county the precinct
committeeman constitute the county
central committee. At the same time
the committeeman of the precincts
comprising city constitute the city
committee. This is the official, law
full constituted party organization
There can be no other. 1t is conceded
by The Oregonian and by all Repub-
lican leaders that the primary law has
become the permanent party machin-
cry for choosing candidates and main
tanning party organization
"Contrasted with the elements that
oppose legitimate party organization,
III order that they may profit by que
rilla warfare between the party lines
there are honorable men who believe
in maintaining party organization.
The Republican who believes in the
fundamental principles of his party
wants a clean, decent lawful and in
telligent Republican organization that
reaches into every precinct in the
state. He believes that good govern
ment, general prosperity, sound finan-
cial and economic systems are all pos
sible through the perpetuity of the
Republican party That kind of cit
izenship abhors bossism and political
managers and will uphold party or
ganization through the direct primary
law. | propose that we organize the
Republican party for the coming ma
/ tonal campaign by strict compliance
whit the letter and the spirit of the
direct primary law, including the
adoption of a Republican platform be-
fore there are any nominations sub
mitted to the people under the law,
and that all Republicans who are can
didates become candidates upon a
platform enunciated by Republicans
and pledge themselves to such plat
form of principles and to support
nominees made under the direct pri-.
mary standing upon such a platform.
My proposition that the 102 county
committeeman and about 1000 pre-
cinct committeeman are the officially
delegated representatives of the Re
publican party in Oregon, and that
they are the proper persons to come
together and make platform for all
Republicans to stand upon, has not
BEEN and | think cannot successfully
be, controverted. 1t must be admitted
there are persons of prominence and
influence in this state, calling them
selves Republicans, who are opposed
even to so much of an organization as
gathering of these committeeman
merely for the purpose of making a
platform of party principles and plan
ming a campaign.
Il have received many replies from
prominent Republicans in comment
on the proposition A county chair
man from one of the largest counties
writes:
L have long been in favor of such
a solution of the primary law. It is
along the line of the Colb amendment
to the New York law, which was re-
jected by the bosses of New York a
year ago.
"A member of the state central COM
mittee writes
Replying to yours, will say that
. ] approve of your plan in regard to
organizing our party In doing so we
avoid any sign of bossism."
No one pretends that a political
party can exist without organization
and without formulated principles
clearly setting forth its position on
vital questions 1t is assumed by
some Republican leaders that Oregon
will cast its vote for a Republican
president under any circumstances.
This does not necessarily follow. But
on the other hand, next year when we
have a president, United States SEN
ator and three congressman to elect,
all upon national issues, 1t would seem
to be a favorable time to consider
party organization.