East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-10-20
ASSEMBLNSM MEANS
DISF FRANCH|SEMENT
OF ORDINARY VOTER
How ''DeIegateS" Were Sc
IeCted From UmatiIIa COun-
ty -Four Years Ago Told,
SMITH OPPOSED SCHEME
BY Declaring for Assemblyism DR..
withycombs Offended Independent
Minded Citizens In All Parties.

When Or. James Withycombe short
ly after being nominated for governor
came out with the declaration. made
at a Portland meeting. that he still
favored the assembly plan of making
nominations in preference to the open
primary he went a long way toward
alternating progressive Republicans as
we'll as Democrats in Umatilla county
His attitude is in striking contrast
with the strong attitude OF DR.. Smith.
who was the Umatilla county anti
assembly leader four years ago.
Umatilla county had a taste of as
sembly four years ago when dele
gates were selected for the lamented
state assembly held in Portland. at
which jay Bowerman was chosen to
run for governor. It is needless TO
say the dose did not taste well. and
here are some Of the reasons why.
Under the assembly scheme as
worked then the common voter and
the politician who did his thinking
for himself had as much show as the
-proverbial dog with tallow legs that
chased the asbestas cat through the
fires OF the lower regions. The aver
age citizen and the Independent mind
ed politician were simply not con-
suited at all. unless in one or two rare
instances. for reasons OF policy. The
delegates" were selected at a very
select gathering held by handful OF
bosses and bosslets at a private club
in Pendleton. All OF those chosen to
attend the sacred gathering in Port
land were either OF the old guard
variety or else they we're men who
were reckoned as being OF the sort
who could be counted upon" They
went to Portland and participated in
the assembly with much vigor and
enthusiasm. They were instrumental
in aiding the successful aspirant for
the assembly's endorsement for COVER
nor and came home with much glee.
But their gladness changed to gloom
when the returns from the fall election
came in with Bowerman 1000 votes
behind his ticket in Umatllla county
and 5000 votes behind Oswald West
through the state as a whole
The assembly plan for making nom
nations is not appreciated because IL
simply disfranchises tho ordinary citi-
zen as far as making nominations is
concerned and it is in the making OF
nominations that the most effective
work for good government can be done.
Under the assembly plan, which Dr.
withycombe still believes in and up
holds, the common voter has no voice
and nothing to do unless he is willing
to get in and take orders and be a
ward heeler for some one.
All should BO- Equal.
On the other hand under the direct
primary one mans vote is as good as
that of any one else, Farmer laborer,
politician, boss and banker go to the
polls upon the same identical terms.
A man can go into a voting booth on
primary day and vote his convictions
sure In the knowledge that his vote
will carry just as much weight as that
OF any one else, but no more. There,
is no trading or conniving behind
closed doors. No buying up of needed
delegates nor any OF the other count
less joys Of the old convention system.
The direct primary system is the
proper system for men and women
who have heads that they use for |
purposes it is the ideal sys-
tenn for all who wish to count for |
on election days and do not
care to be mere blind workers for some |
political machine.
These facts arc realized in Umatilla
county as we'll as elsewhere, and Dr. |
insistence that the as
,embly method is the only proper way
% make nominations will be a contri-
putting factor to his defeat in the
'anner wheat county Of the state
November 3.