Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-04-16
WIN Mr. Bourne Come Backl


The term Of Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
senior senator from Oregon, will ex-
pire March 3, 1918. Notwithstanding
this fact, he is on the Job in Wash
ington, has been on the job for the
last 16 months, with the exception Of
one weeks holiday, and will remain
on the Job, attending to his official
duties, undisturbed by the impending
election. He Is, however, a candl-
date for another term in the senate,
and his method Of making no cam
paign for reelection is unique and
without precedent in the popular
government movement. To the peo-
pie ( Oregon, Senator Bourne puts
the novel issue frankly.
1T is up to you," he says to the
citizens Of his state, ITO demonstrate
whether you have the intelligence to
recognize and appreciate good public
service by retaining public servants
who make good. or whether you pre-
fer to return to the old campaign
system-use of money, character as
assinatlon, personal contracts, soph-
istry misleading statements and
skillful straddling Of leading ques-
tions."
That this may sound egosrical"
the senator acknowledges, but he in
sists that his desire is to see how the
people will avail themselves "of this
opportunity of self-expression." He
believes that 1t is a common. sense
business proposition which the vot-
ers must determine for themselves.
When his term expires the govern
ment will have expended $4,000 in
his training for the office Of United
States senator. Has this money been
well expended?-that is the question
as Senator Bourne views It; or, in
his own words: "In business, DEM
onstrated efficiency is the sole meas
ure Of retention or promotion Of the
employee. Thus it should be in gov
ernment I am giving you the OPP
portunity Of demonstrating that in
Oregon such is the case"
Under the Oregon law, the candi-
date may designate 10 words to be
printed after his name on the official
ballot. Senator Bourne has selected
this as the principal plano in his
platform: Advocates substitution Of
general welfare for selfish interest in
all government operations"
Jonathan Bourne has been use
full senator, representative OF his
state, which he has widely advertised
throughout the country. His great
est service to the general welfare"
has been his initiative of the presi-
dental primary He originated the
idea, secured its adption by the leg
islature Of Oregon in 1910, and has
vocated the extension of this primary
to other states by speech, pamphlet
and letter. The result of this un-
ceaslng labor for popular govern
ment has been the enactment of
presidential primary laws in Nebras-
ka, Wisconsin, North Dakota, New
Jersey, California, and more recent
ly in Michigan and Massachusetts. He
will never let up until this shall be-
come the sole method of selecting
candidates for the presidency.
He has exposed the misuse Of fed
eral patronage, His speech in the
senate on this subject broke all rec
ords for the best sellers"-o"er a
million copies were requested in 90
days. AS chairman Of the committee
on postoffices and post roads no has
pulled a strong oar In congress for
the parcels post. His present cam =.
paign-of making no campaign for
re-election-is decidedly the interest
ing event of the year, And the re-
suit, II favorable to his candidacy,
must necessarily have an important
influence in other states and upon
officials high and low. Sticking to
the Job may become necessary, If not
popular, with public servants from
the titular head down to the gentle
man from Arizona