Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-10-19
A POLITICAL CONSPIRACY.

The Tidings editor has been study
ing the political history of Oregon
lately. Our investigation was en-
tered into without prejudice-purely
with the view of ascertaining the
facts. Our party prediction was re-
publican. There was much rumor
that the old republican machine was
grounded in corruption, had wholly
usurped the powers of government in
the state and was using it exclusively
to forward its hold on the offices and
practicing corrupt political manipula-
ton. That it had entered into alli-
ance with big business and had sys-
tematically conspired to confiscate
the natural resources of the state.
That il had grown so powerful that
equitable legislation and administra-
tion was almost impossible. That re-
peated attempts by the rank and file
to reform the organization had utter
ly failed. That the machine had be-
come wholly rotten and unreprescnta-
tive That party principles were an
nounced for vote-getting purposes
only and abandoned without scruple
That money was freely used in sena-
torial elections and legislative enact
ment. That the virtue of women and
the honor of men were bartered in
common political deals. That legis-
lative quorums were broken and leg
islation delayed and defeated in the
interest of senatorial machine candi-
dates. That money was openly used
for corruption, brazen and notorious.
That the machine had fallen entirely
into the hands of political pirates and
mountebanks.
That was the report. That was the
reason assigned for the rebellion of
the people against the machine which
was exemplified in the adoption of the
direct primary, the initiative, refer
endum and recall, the preferential
ballot for United States senators and
the corrupt practices act. The pow.
ers of government had been abso
lutely usurped by corruption ant
privilege and repeated attempts by
the people to regain power under the
old convention system had utterly
failed.
These reports came from every
quarter and the details were the
same as to methods and results. II
set the Tidings editor thinking and
investigating. He did not want to be
made a tool by the enemies of his
party to destroy virtuous organiza
tion, nor did he desire to become a
party to such corruption and usurpa-
tion.
He searched through the files ol
newspapers. He communicated with
men formerly affiliated with the or
ganiZation. He delved into legisla
tive journals. The farther the in
vestigation proceeded the more ap
parent it became that the reports
were true. Now the investigation Il
finished and We are convinced. The
evidence came from the records anC
not from disaffected partisans. Th'
republican machine WAS utterly cor
rupt and not representative in thu
slightest degree. 1t HAD usurpet
the powers of government and eXer
cised them wholly in the interest o
corrupt political machine control
The Oregon system had been PROP
ERLY conceived as the only metho
by which its power could be broken
And the system has so far succeeded
But, this year conspiracy ha
been formed. to destroy the Orego
system and put the government bac
into the hands of the same old ms
chine. The plan had been well laiC
The conspiracy is complete Cond
tions look favorable. Hard times a
ways initiates against the party /
power. Charge democratic incomp,
tency with the depression and pani
organize the old machine to the lai
inch of efficiency, hand pick cand
dates who can be depended upon. II
the organization Golfers with cash I
be employed without scruple or lay
gather into the organization ever
man throughout the state who prof
ed through the old machine and {
into the fight to win.
These looked like the facts gleane