Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-10-07
Jonathan Bourne Candidate for
Senator.

SENATOR.
A petition containing fifteen thou
sand names is filed with the secre-
tary of state asking that Bourne's
name be printed on the ticket as
candidate to succeed himself as
United States senator. The securing
of names on the petition was volun-
tary upon the part of the admirers
of the senator and were secured in
three days. An organization to for
ward his candidacy has been formed
as THE Bourne Popular Government
Club"
The following resolutions were
adopted by the Portland East Side
Library meeting of popular govern
ment supporters of Mr.. Bourne. In
them is fair expression of the gen
eral sentiment throughout the state
and the reasons for the movement to
re-elect him are clearly set out:
Whereas, 1t is matter of COM
mon report that in Mr.. Ben Selling's
campaign for the senatorial nomina-
tion money was spent far in excess
of the amount reported to the secre-
tary of state, we believe Mr.. Selling
violated the spirit of the corrupt
practices act by spending large sums
of money in the distribution of cir
cular letter just before announcing
his candidacy, which expenditure was
in reality a part OF his campaign ex-
pense, though not included in his ac-
count. We believe that he violated
the letter of the law by Incorporating
in his circular an attack upon Sen
ator Bourne, the expense of which
he did not report to the secretary OF
state, as required by law; and,
Whereas, Senator Bournes rec
ord in the United States senate was
misrepresented by most of the press
of the state, and by such deception
many voters were prejudiced against
him; and,
Whereas, 1t was falsely asserted
by Mr.. Selling's campaign managers
that Senator Bourne was not a resi-
| dent of the state, when as a matter
of fact he has been a resident of the
state for "a years and his absence
during the past five years has been
due to his continuous devotion to his
official duties; and,
Whereas, Mr.. Settings campaign
managers circulated the false state
ment that Mr.. Bourne pays taxes in
the state of Oregon to the amount OF
only $2.44, whereas the fact is that
he pays personally and through en-
terprises in which he is part owner,
taxes to the amount of hundreds of
dollars upon property in Multnomah,
Clackamas, Benton, Baker and Coos
counties; and,
Whereas, 1t was asserted by Mr..
Settings supporters that Senator
Bourne circulated campaign litera-
ture under his frank, whereas no
literature relating in any way to his
candidacy was circulated in that
manner. Congressional documents
circulated under his frank were in
defense of the Oregon system, which
is even yet under attack by its enc
mics; and
Whereas, 1t was falsely asserted
that the Bourne mills, in which
Senator Bourne is minority stock
holder, were operated under oppres'
sive labor conditions, whereas an in
vestigation by representative OF the
American Federation of Labor
proved that the operatives were not
only better cared for but received
better wages than are paid by Other
mills in the same section of the
United States; and,
: Whereas, 1t was also falsely as
serted by Mr.. Selling's supporters
that Senator Bourne was without in
fluence in congress, whereas the rec
ords show that he has the most i'm
, portant committee assignments eve
held Wy an Oregon senator; has beer
instrumental in securing the larges
appropriations for Oregon that tn
state has ever had; has attained thu
widest national reputation ever at
tanned by an Oregon senator; is alon'
entitled to credit for the enactmen
r of the parcels post law at the recen
, session of congress-; has vote il
: committee on larger amount OF ap
. preparations than does any other sen
/, ator, and will, if reelected, be ad
: vanced to more important committe
positions; therefore be it
Resolved, In view of the forego
ing statement of facts, we are thor
oughly convinced that Mr.. Selling
nomination and Mr.. Bourne's defea
s were accomplished by illegal an
: Questionable means, and in the IN
r terest of good government and 10
;. the promotion of the best interest
q of the state we urge Senator Bourn
' to become an independent candidat
for the senatorship; and be 1t
Resolved, That the earnest an
sincere thanks of this meeting b
rendered to Senator Bourne in reco&
i milton of his remarkable services
d Oregon, not alone with respect
|. larger appropriations and other in
portant measures, but because h
ability and integrity have given Ore
:. gon higher standing in the senat
: of the United States than it has eve
y possessed before"