Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-10-07
JONATHAN BOURNE.


some local gentlemen who hate Mr..
Bourne. They hate him mainly be-
cause he was instrumental in put
ting the old republican machine out
of business; and these same gentle
men were part of that machine.
They told the editor that Jonathan
Bourne was a bad actor; very bad
actor They told him that in 1897
Mr.. Bourne maintained a harem at
Salem; a veritable harem, mind you,
with all the side lights and neces-
saTy prerequisites-wine and women
and women and wine-and the ed
itor believed it because he was new
in the state ana did not understand
the angles of the political scraps of
the past. He has been investigating
a little of late and has changed his
mind about Jonathan Bourne. 1t
seems now very apparent that the
stories derogatory to the private
character of Jonathan Bourne were
hatched in the brain of a political
enemy with the intent of prejudicing
moral people against Mr.. Bourne.
Now it is very much in the interest
of Ben Selling that the harem story
should be pushed along, and especial
ly in this community he has his bust
ness agents busy repeating it. Six
years ago Ben Selling said: Il had
rooms on the same floor in the block
where Mr.. Bourne had his headquar-
ters. In addition, l was a visitor in
his rooms, and once dined at his ta-
BILE. l did not see the slightest indi-
cation of any improperly whatever" "
The Oregonian is one of Settings
main instruments through which
these derogatory stories are now be-
ing circulated. Six years ago Edgar
b. Piper, managing editor of the Ore
gonian, said: Il was in Salem dur
ing the legislative sessions of 1897,
1901 and 1903 as the representative
of the Portland Oregonian and was
very frequent night and day visitor
at Mr.. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.'s, head
quarters. If, as has been alleged,
there had ben any disreputable con-
duct on the part of those who were
entertained by Mr.. Bourne, it could
hardly have escaped my notice.
saw no dissipation of any kind dur
| ing either of the sessions named on
the part of those whom l met at the
headquarters; witnessed no conduct
unbecoming to gentlemen, and GER
tainly saw no questionable women,
or suspicion thereof, in or about his
headquarters" So that is what Ben
Selling and the editor of the Ore
! gonian said six years ago. Why are
the henchmen of Ben Selling now cir
culating these false accusations with
such zeal? Do you think it is be-
cause now Ben Selling would rather
be elected to the United States sen.
ate than tell the truth? American
politics has fallen into a very low
state when such scandalous stories
\ are put afloat in order to defeat 6
political opponent. 1t is sad com
, mentary on the fitness of people tC
govern themselves when such absurd
stories are accepted with credence
Seldom is personal abuse and the
| besmirching of private reputation re-
sorted to except in extreme cases
where there is no hope of defeating
, candidate upon his public record
Bourne during the five years of his
incumbency as senator is above re
lproach. He has made good. Mr.
La Toilette, Mr.. Cummins and Mr.
Roosevelt, the three staunchest pro
gressives in American life, have al
said in public addresses that Mr.
Bourne has consistently supported il
the United States senate the reforms
advocated by the Oregon system. Mr.
Roosevelt says that Jonathan Bourn,
has done more than any man in pub
lie life to educate the statesmen o
America in the tenets of the Oregon
system, and that his influence ha
been greater than any other il
spreading the progressive gospel il
c such practical way that it is beini
generally adopted in the government
, of many states.
During this campaign keep i
\ mind, Mr.. Voter: Ben Selling an
9 his henchmen and the Oregonian an
: those who follow it are foremost i
circulating the harem story agains
r Mr.. Bourne. The question, ther
i turns on whether these gentleme
# were lying six years ago when the
: said there was nothing in the charg,
"a or are they lying now when they sa
n there is. In the light of the oppos
tion of Selling and the Oregonian I
the candidacy of Mr.. Bourne the al
l. swer is plain.