Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-03-16

To the People Of Oregon
You are now on trial, not |. Ny
method OF making no campaign for
reelection 10 the United States sem
ate Is an epoch in the popular gov
ornment movement II 10 up 10 you
TO demonstrate whether you have the
intelligence to recognize and appre-
ciate good public service by retaining
public servants who make good, or
whether you prefer TO return to the
old campaign system use OF money,
character assassination, personal con-
tracts, sophlstry, misleading state
ments and sklllful straddling Of lead
ing questions.
At the expiration OF my present
term, the government will have ex-
pended $4,000 for my Raary and
mileage during six years service. |
personally will have expended several
times that amount In trying TO in
crease my efficiency. Certainly my
efficiency for accomplishment has
greatly increased with six years SER
vice. That you, the people, would
substitute new man for me when
have been honest and have capably
and faithfully attended to my duties,
Is inconceivable TO my mind. II am
wrong, then popular government ls
weak, owing to the electorate's pres
ent lack of development In being un-
able to recognize and appreciate good
service.
Now, my friends, this may sound
egOtlstlcal, but II Is not. II Is n plain
statement OF facts. am trying to
eliminate myself and analyze the per-
sonal equations Of the people Of Ore
gon and see how you will avail your.
selves Of this opportunity for self-ex-
preston. feel my method Of making
no campaign TO be the most important
event Of the year. The result, not
because Of me, but because OF the
method OF making no campaign, Ia Of
more Importance to the future Of this
country than tho coming presidential
election. II am elected without maxi
Ing q campaign, the victory is yours,
not mine, II am defeated, the defeat
is yours, not mine. Friends and enc
niles OF popular government are
watching the result Of my method OF
making no campaign with great in
terest, not because Of mo- but because
Of the method, II Ia my duty and
intention 10 continue tho course have
adopted because OF the benefits that
will be derived In case OF lts success.
The demonstration made OF the sue
cers OF tho plan will revolutlonlEe poll
itica In this country--its failure will
retard the growth Of popular govern
ment many years
Nearly ak years ago the repuhll-
cans OF Oregon nominated, the people
selected, and the legislative assembly
elected me TO the United States SEN
ate, became a candidate, not as q
matter OF ambition. but at the urgent
solicitation OF a number or friends OF
popular government who believed my
candidacy and leadership would en-.
force Statement Number One Of our
Primary Law. These friends, as we'll
as | myself, expected | would be de.
feated, hut hoped by my aggressive
leadership that the spirit as we'll M
the Oregon method Of popular cleo
tlon OF United States senators would
be established, ] issued a platform
pledglng my honor 10 the people oi
the state that n nominated and elect
cd, would favor The principles enun-
olated IN the platform. A bitter and
most contemplate campaign was made
against me. The state was flooded
with anonymous literature accusing
me OF nearly every crime In the cal
endar was the most mlsrepresent-
ed man In the state, but because OF
my platform and my leadership for
Statement Number One the people
took me on trial, evidently believing
that the things for which | stood gave
the lie dlrOct 10 the accusations OF The
would-be character assasslns, AS soon
aB ! received Unpopular vote, realiE'
ing the responsibility Of the trust del
egated 10 me by the people OF Oregon,
and without waiting for the threat
onod oouteat In the Legislature IN Jan