Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-04-11
OREGONIAN
SAUCE, FOR
GOOSE ONLY
ITS BIG HEART TOUCHED BY THE
WOES OF WORKING PEOPLE OF
THE EAST-THE BEN SELLING
BEAM DOES NOT PREVENT 1T
SEEING THE BOURNE NOTE.
Especial Correspondence Of The Cap
ital Journal)

Especial Correspondence of The Cap
ital Journal)
The general political apathy so no
ticeable in this state Is nowhere more
dlscernable than in the senatorial
campaign. We have a wealthy sena-
tor now, who has been out to see us
but few times since we elected him.
He is closely affiliated with the strong
est, dominating individuals in con-
gress He is a member of many of
the most important committees. He
has told us that he will expend to-
ward reelection the small sum al
lowed by law. He has said that the
Oregon system is on trial, meaning
that if he is reelected 1t ratifies pop
ular rule. He claims to have done a
gigantic amount of work in relation to
the interests of the whole United
States, and has presented the depart
ment with the most exhaustive sum-
mary of the parcel post operations in
all foreign countries. He claims to
have spent many times over his salary
in his service as senator. So far as
his candidacy is concerned, the pOlit
lcal temperature Of this state is no
different than when It elected him in
1906 That Senator Bourne Is conf
dent Is evidenced by his general mat
tentlon to political campaign work in
Oregon He is drifting with the same
tide that carried him into a senator
ial port in 1906.
Certain Of the press in this state
have been persistent In the criticism
of our senator, His personal record
is played upon, as well as his public
record. Nothing has been left undona
which might detract from any good
he has done. And upon his political
destruction this same press would
build the house Of Senator Ben Sell
ing, Of Portland. AS is usual with
partisan tactics, fair play all around
cannot be had The leading paper of
this state, ignoring its real function
as a public channel of information,
occupies its time with many columns
idollzing Ben Selling, shifting Senator
Bourne and refusing public notice of
other candidates. IN ether words, the
leading paper has a candidate Of its
own, and forgets its duty to the peo-
pie to permit them to decide which
one Of the several candidates they
want 1t is all right to support a
choice, but It is all wrong to gag the
paper
Voters have looked In vain for some
defects in Candidate Selling. He is a
paragon of political virtue. In the
issue Of April Z the Oregonlan. under
editorial caption, "Hs Public Rec
ord" goes on to say about Senator
Bourne: at is is fair, and 1t is even
necessary to consider the relation of
any public man In his public capacity
to his own private interests" Now,
will the Oregonlan kindly go into the
private interests and private life of
Ben Selling? II It would he fair to
Mr.. Bourne and the people Of Oregon
(outside OF Portland) It will show the
relationship that will exist between
the private interests OF Mr.. Selling
with his public interests, IL elected.
Since II was something Of genuine
surprise to the old-llne political war
horses, when Mr., Bourne was elected.
the people may surprise MS yet by
electlng some obscure candidate
whose name never gets into the great
local dailies
The Bourne cotton mills are under
local fire A special writer has been
sent by the big paper Of Oregon to
find outn what conditions really ex-
ist here, Why? Because II is brim-
ming over with sympathy for the poor
overworked and undorpaid employees?
No Because It wants to beat Mr..
Roune In the coming election, and
would use these unfortunate wretch
es" to the best advantage on the al
tar Of political capital It's a lucky
thing for some OF the Portland depart
ment stores that Senator Ben Selling
is not a stockholder The oregonian
would sure have special writer be-
hind the counter Investigating the
actual conditions" And all from q
sense Of humanity of course. Con-
slstently the oregonlau might find out
Il MIR Selling is paying his clerks
good salaries with reasonable hours.
Whether he is making too much profit
on nOClitleg and COllnrs II hn 20 nav.