East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-12-14
CHAS. FULTON MAY
OPPOSE BOURNE
FORMER SENATOR MAY BE
HOPE OF SOL0N'S ENEMIES
Refuses TO Commit Himself on Mat
ter and Denies RcspoT ibility of
Boom Started in His Behalf-Will
Prove n Factor.

Portland, Ore, Dec. 14.-Charles
w Fulton. ex-United States senator
and antagonist of Jonathan Bourne,
may yet become the hope" of those
who seek to overturn the senior sena-
tor, For some time a quiet move
ment has been on foot among some
of the old guard republicans to put
Fulton to the front once more. and
the Morning Astorian, published in
Fulton's old home at Astoria. has now
taken the lead in urging his candi-
dacy
Mr.. Fulton coyly sidestepped a d.
rect answer when he was asked if he
will be a candidate. He said he had
seen the front page editorials of the
Astorian under the heading Does
Oregon Want Capable Men in the
United States senate?" adding that
this was published without any sug-
gestion or convivance on his part.
81 am not prepared to discuss the
matter at this time" said the eX-sen-
ator. 81 will not say that l will not
be a candidate. nor will l say that 1
will be a candidate. l have given the
matter no consideration"
AS Fulton does not put aside the
sugge Stion of his name for the sem
atorship and some of his friends have
taken up crusade in his behalf, an
exceedingly important factor has been
added to the situation. Since it be-
came known that Ben Selling is like
ly to become a candidate, Selling has
been regarded as the residuary lega-
tee of the bitter anti-Bourne element.
But if Fulton comes into the race
there will be stampede of old liners
to the ex-senator. who consider that
their first allegiance is to him if he
sounds the battle call.
Selling Considering Matter.
Selling has not definitely announc-
ed himself a candidate. He has only
said that he is seriously considering
the matter Apparently Fulton Is
about to do the same thing. With
both in the field there would be de-
cided division of the forces that might
otherwise be united against Bourne. 1t
is therefore safe to say that strenu-
GUS efforts will be put forth by the
anti Bourne leaders to keep one or the
other out of the race.
While the general preference of the
old guard would be for Fulton, and
many would go to him from sense
Of loyalty. whatever they believed his
chances to be, many who would like
to see Fulton senator again do not be-
lieve he is available as a candidate,
and will argue that Selling should be
made the standard bearer. Selling has
carried the progressive label and has
made fight for the Oregon system
in years when Fulton and his friends
were standing on the other side.
Need Progressive Fire.
Arguing that this is a progressive
year, with the La Toilette peril Civ
ing them bad dreams, many of those
allied with the old-line faction de-
clare that concession must be made
to progressive sentiment, and they
doubt their ability to show Fulton
suff ciently progressive. To best
Bourne, they contend, they must lay
in a quantity of progressive fire.
Meanwhile, much interest will be
taken in the reception that Fulton's
name receives in other parts of the
state. Some of his friends believe he
will not only consider the senatorsh p,
but will be induced to enter the race.
This contingency. it is admitted, Is
! dependent upon other turns the sit
uation may take and upon what de-
cision is finally reached by Ben Sell
ing.