Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-10-05
Mr.. Mears' open Letter
CONTINUED from Page one.)

best way to avoid it in the future is
to have congress so split along party
lines that no party will dominate, but
that every measure must be put
through on it's merits aside from
party infection.
We are tired of congressman and
senators fighting meritorious meas
ures for no better reason than il
passed and proving wholesome the
opposite party will have credit for it.
That amounts to sacrifice of public
veal to party advantage.
The Tidings would rather see a |
republican president, a progressive
congress and democratic senate, or
vice versa, than to see all branches
of the government by the same party.
Better still, we would rather see both
branches composed of members who
cared not a whit for any party, but
who would exercise unbiased, intelli-
gent judgment on every measure pre-
sented without dictation. We think
that would produce wiser legislation
and better government.
The trouble is that party organiza-
tions, long dominant, become cor
rupt and exercise the powers of gov
ernment in their own interest instead
of the interest of the people. We
wish to avoid that. Because of that
the split came between the old ma.
nipulators of the republican party
and the rank and file of the party,
resulting in the rupture that brought
the progressive party into existence
The Oregon election laws are in
consistent in this: The effective
power of party organization is de-
stroyed, and yet the provision is
made for party primaries. Therefore
candidates are compelled to run on
party tickets in the primary and after
that paddle their own canoe in the
election. Candidates all realize that
and the demand is growing for a
general, nonpartisan primary law.
When that is accomplished, as it will
be in a few years, even sight of the
old party organizations will be lost.
No one will ever care to inquire, and
no candidate will need to state his
party affiliations. Candidates then
will be gauged by the things they
stand for, by their ability, their char
acter and their disposition to admin
lister government in manner best
pleasing to the people. This should
be applpied as well to national as
state politics.
1t is no strain on the consistency"
of the Tidings, as it has not been a
strain Of late on the electorate, in
advocating democrat for one place,
republican for another and pro-
gressive for still another-to advo-
cate a republican for the T. s. SEN
ate and a democrat for L. S. con-
9 gresham. We give no attention
whatever to their past affiliations;
, we simply ask: Do they stand for
the right principles in government?
= Have they courage enough to insist
= on those principles in spite of party
organization? Are they men OF
strong enough character to be trust
G ed to truly represent the people?
These questions determined IN the
affirmative, the matter of our sup
port is settled.
The Tidings supports Mr.. Booth
for U. s. senator, not because he is a
candidate on the republican ticket,
\ but because we think he stands for
the higher and better things in gov
ernment, is man of clean habits and
: unblemished reputation, has ability
and courage and will better represent
0 the state of Oregon than Mr.. Cham
: berlain. his opponent, has done.
BY the same gauge we measure
u Mr.. Hollister, although on the demo-
cratic ticket. If elected he must be
by other than democratic votes, and
D we assume from the character of the
= man and his professions that if so
i elected he will give the best in him
Il in forwarding the interests of Ore
. gon. Under no circumstances could
Il he be of less use to the state than
: Congressman Hawley
i BY too long and too strict adher-
ence to republican organization Mr..
Mears discovered at last that he had
helped build a machine strong
enoug to entirely abandon its former
= principles--to violate and corrupt
J them-and that he was powerless to
y hinder from within. Like the stall
f wart adherent to principles that he
a is, be withdrew from it, but has yet
n to realize that he is now engaged in
n building another that is equally like
e ly to grow corrupt with power. For,
4 be 1t remembered, in its infancy the
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