Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-09-28
INDEPENDENT VOTING.

live in the past respond in the least
to that political, partisan slogan.
There are some still so blinded by
party prejudice as to imagine that
all virtue lies in the policies OF
certain party. Thinking men now
have no such notion. Whoever fol-
lows the history of party events must
admit that always long-continued
power by every party has resulted in
corruption and inefficient govern
ment. The best hope of the future
lies in the fact that men and women
are beginning to demand service
from public officers-effective gen
eral service, not party service-and
one by one those rulers who are
guided by the wrong notion that
party service is enough are falling
by the wayside And that is hope
full sign.
For party government let fools con-
test;
The government that governs best is
best;
For modes of faith let gracious zeal
OTIS fight;
Demand but service, and service in
the right.
On this point the people of Oregon
have spoken in no uncertain tone.
The present Oregon election law was
framed to destroy party power and
effective organization. and well it has
succeeded. Under it there is little
need for committee organization
every candidate must make his fight
on his single merit-he can depend
upon no powerful organization to as
sist him-and because of that party
committees find themselves shorn OF
both sinew and advantage, and candi-
dates find no use for organization
without effective power. That is as
it should be. The spoils system dies
when organization is destroyed, for
political parties are only able to hold
their power through favoritism and
spoils. True enough, many of those
politicians who profited under the old
system through dominant organiza-
tion while seeing there is something
wrong in their ability still to control
blindly, stick to an organization that
is dead without realizing their party
is long demised. Notwithstanding
that, there are no political party or
CARNATIONS in Oregon. Government
and elections are in the hands of the
people and the people are exercising
wonderful independence in exercising
the function of control. The old line
politician who thrived on party spoils
leads a lean existence, hardly know.
ing why, for he still fills the all
with the cry of vote 'er straight,
and blindly remains about the only
voter who takes the advice. AS of
repeated by this paper, therein rests
lively hope for the future. Coco
government will come out of it il
spite of the apparent inconsistencie,
and crudities of the new laws now il
action, for an Independent electoral,
. will eventually force responsive, eff
' ficient and economical government
; one exercised for public rather thar
party service.
The editor of the Tidings has beel
an adherent to republican principle
for many years, and insofar as tha
l party has contended for principle
rather than power for spoils he ha
cast his influence on the side of tha
party. But for many years he ha
: noted the growing and evil tendenc
I of political organizations toward
r scramble for office and spoils with
S out regard to efficient service an
n wholesome policies. Partisans ha
: grown blind enough to imagine tina
I upon the success of that party @
: this depended the prosperity and pei
$ petuity of the government. Latel
5 there has been some shifting in pc
e litical control, enough, indeed,
= prove that every party organizatio
= has greater interest in who holds tn
= offices and enjoys the emolument
= than in wholesome and economic;
S administration or legislation in Ii
a interest of the whole people. TIL
d being demonstrated, there is but OF
e course for the plebian, and in Orego
a he has faithfully adhered to it /
II smashing party machines and ente
II ing an independent struggle for goo
p. government. They are not askir
Is candidates What party do you alig
with?" but, who are you? VIII
do you stand for? Upon what ms
l. We depend from you in case we ell
n yate you to this position of trus
IN viii you assume the attitude in G
n. flee of a servant or a ruler? Do "
ID propose to work for personal a
s. grandizement and party power, or
a. you intend to render conscientio
n service?"