Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-03-01
SELLING FOR SENATOR.

AS was expected Ben Selling, of
Portland, has announced his candida
cy for the United States senate in
opposition to Jonathan Bourne, the
present incumbent. Selling says he
has entered the race in response to
numerous assurances of support that
poured in upon him from republi-
cans in all portions of the state
Since he has announced himself, tel
egrams and letters have literally
swamped his headquarters congratu-
lating him upon his decision and pre-
dieting his success.
The Observer will support Mr.. Sell
llng's candidacy and hopes to see
him chosen. 1t wants to see him sue
cessful because it believes that
Bourne is in no way fitted to repre-
sent the great and growing state of
Oregon in the United States senate.
No personal animus influences this
decision. We do not personally
know either Bourne or Selling and
our motives in the present fight are
solely because we believe that Bourne.
should be retired He is not an Ore
gonian. He has visited this state but
very few times since his election.
His private interests outside the state
are apparently much greater than in
side its boundaries and his ability is
inconsequential
We know Bourne by reputation.
Through a residence of several years
in the adjoining state of Washington,
We have had occasion TO know the
standing which Oregon's senior SEN
ator occupies away from his state and
we know that he is commonly ac-
cepted as joke. 1t is generally felt
that, so long as Oregon Is content
to keep Bourne and men of his ilk
in the senate, representatives of 9TH |
er states find no trouble in securing
what they want for their people at
the expense of oregon. This fact
ought TO be apparent to all Oregon /
people who have made a study of I
the situation. other states have
profted greatly at the expense of Or
egon; they have secured concessions
and emoluments in the way Of need
ed and progressive legislation in
which oregon should have partici-
pated. and would have done so. had
we men In Congress whose capabil-
tiles were sufficient, and whose inter-
ssts in their own state generally were
paramount to their personal aggran-
iizement Oregon has suffered long
'nough at the hands Of these incom-
,etents.
There is no earthly reason why any
'epublican should support Bourne.
lie is a political jumping jack.
ommon. ordinary politician and
'iace hunter. He has no real inter- s
81 in the people Of Oregon and
very move he has made. officially. :
'as been toward a perpetuation Of
imself in office. He spends his va :
alton hobuobbing with interests in
mical 90 the people OF Oregon and 4
ememhers the state only upon occas- @
pm when Il lies within his limited
lentality to throw sop in this di-
ection. In
SELLING is an oregon man. lie has a
n enviable record in politics OF this 4
late and will faithfully represent 81
regon In Washington. we believe 7
'hile he would not have been the ID
IAN whom The Observer would have 3,
.iectcd to make the race stHl. he al
- the support Of republicans gem W
ally whose collective Judgment q
.ould carry more weight than indi- m
dual opinion. IL should be reaiia- m
that. only by uniting on some one re
ndidate can Bourne be defeated te
a q seems 10 us that Selling Is "a
So man. SO far as this goes We do of
Z believe that the others who have m
nounced their candidacy win have N
influential bearing on the result vi
{ iet no one BE- deceived. There til
no question but that were IL pcs
le % register the real feeling oil
. people 81 this state. should the -s
be center between Bourne and An