East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-10-20
BEFORE
POLITICS, WAS EARLY
MOTTO OF DR.. SMITH
Moral, Law Abiding Element
Were His Friends While He
Was PendIetOn'S Mayor
By James H. Raley.

So long ago that cannot recall the
date, yet 70 deep was tho impression
made that / vividly remember the oc-
casion when, while attending a mass
meeting Of Democrats in the old court
house hail IN Pendleton. preliminary 70
the selection Of delegates TO a Demo-
cratic convention. the chairman an
nounced, after the conclusion Of re-
marks from a number Of "old timers
that we have in our midst tonight
young Democrat from the state Of
Washington. who is here TO make his
future home with U.s. We would Ike
TO hear from our young friend, Or.
Charles j. Smith Somewhere from
among the benches (and 1 do not re-
member that had ever seen him be-
fore) there arose a lank. rawboned.
bright-eyed young man, who. in clear.
confident voice. said in almost these
exact words Mr.. Chairman and gem
tlemen. ! came 10 your town 70 prac-
tee my profession. ! hope to establish
place among you as a physician, and
not as a politician. Politics engenders
enemies, and need friends Ny first
duty now is TO my profession and to
my patients. In later years. after l
have become established. as most OF
you now are, / hope TO take part In the
political questions Of your town and
county. thank you"
Smith was stranger when he arose
10 speak. when he sat down every
man in the house was his friend, ard
esteemed II a favor 20 congratulate him
on the wisdom OF his remarks. Space,
Of course. forbids me from following
in detail the career Of DR.. Smith during
his long career in this county. Suffice
Il 10 say that no amount Of persuasion
could shake nor alter the determina-
ton of the doctor TO make his profess
sion and his patients his first consider
alton in all his earlier years OF prac-
tice. That he succeeded in his profes-
sion is a matter Of recorded history
throughout the state OF oregon and
elsewhere; and the time did come when
he became established and was enabled
consistent with his first promise 10
take part in the politics Of the town
and the county: and when this time
came then he shrank not fromany duty
demanded Of him. AS Mayor OF Pen
dleton. he was firm. faithful. outspoken
AID consistent. AS a candidate for the
office he promised TO restrict, control
and as far as possible, eradicate vice
and the vicious elements of Pendleton.
This promise he kept; not that he sue
ceeded in eradicating all evils, for such
was not within the power Of a mayor
10 do, but conditions were rendered far
better than they had been before
through his efforts and energies bent
in a moral direction. His term OF Of
flee as mayor closed with all the moral
and law abiding element his friends,
and the other element his enemies.
What better proof could be offered or
the course Of his administration! bis
long service as a school director (some
is or 20 years, l think attests the
class of people who are his supporters.
His stewardship as a member OF the
OREGON senate for eight years is a writ
ten book TO the voters OF Oregon. NO
member stood higher in the estimation
OF MS lellON IlNAAhtiGs hNfA N'Nts
promise to his colleagues and TO his
constituents. and il elected governor
of Oregon, know that every promise
made by him in tnis campaign will be
kept If within his power. To all who
know him his pledge that he will pur-
sue and carry out policy of strict law
enforcement is conclusive that he will
do so. Law enforcement is not an idle
campaign slogan. but il is personal
pledge by DR.. Smith to the people OF
Oregon. Governor West has pointed
out the way for its execution, and Gov
erDor smith will see that his pledge 10
the people is executed. You may with
equal force rely upon his pledges TO
curtail appropriations and reduce taxes.
His early devotion to his profession is
a guarantee of his devotion to duty IN
politics as well as in private life.