East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-13

NAauala Ihe controversy has reach
ed a higher plane than any private
interest The good name ana safe,y
Of the city is at stake The future
orderly conduct OF elections is IN the
balance That there was illcgal yot-
ing in the fourth ward there can be
no reasonable doubt. That Mont
somery was elected oy the bona fide
vote of the city is more than prob
able There was a mob and near ri
OF in the streets for hours on elec-
tion night Public decency and in
dNidual safety demand vigorous ac-
tion by the constituted authorities,
and in the name Of those people OF
Pendleton who stand for law and or
der and they are in the majority.
now deliberately and in good consci-
ence demand a thorough invesuga-
tion by both the city authorities and
the courts.
Crimes against the franchise en-
danger the very foundations Of gov
ernment No self-respecting person
can either excuse or condone them.
Rioting, mob rule, is both an attack
upon constituted authority and al
menace to human life The men re.
sponsible for the disorder, its public
shame and private disgrace. should
face the stern tribunals of justice
Let the innocent be eXonerated Let
none who are guilty escape.
Now word as to Dudley Evans l
know nothing personally as 10 what
occurred in the fourth ward. nor
have I a personal knowledge of the
arrangements made for the chal-
lengers by either side. However n
have taken pains to investigate, and
I here and now assume fun respon.
sibility. in order to make this chal-
lenge to the Best contingent. chal-
lenge Best, his attorneys, his apollo
gists, his sponsors, his supporters, to
show by reputable witnesses in any
court either that Evans was not a !
legally constituted challenger or that
he transgressed the election laws or
that he insulted any woman. There
We're plenty of witnesses there alll
day, among them three worthy Ia
dies, deputy sheriff, the district at
torney and his deputy marshals and
deputy marshals. and substantial cit
liens The whole time can be coy. |
cred l am asking nothing unrea-
sonable,
Evans knows the election law per- ,
fectly, better than any lawyer knows !
1t He was there to prevent il pos
sible the casting of illegal votes He |
kept within the law, and endeavored
to have the election board do the
same If they had followed his sug.
gestions we would have had a clean
ar election, and the city would have
been saved the disgrace of the mob.
He is resident Of Portland, but
hat does not disqualify Him from
lcting as a challenger in Pendleton,
}r elsewhere in the state. Every
awyer, and every man who has ex-
tmined the law knows that fact.
But they tell me that he is a
prize fighter" Very well. I have
Known the man for more than 10
ears. I have known him in the
ears when he resided in PendletOn,
md in the years since he returned
o Portland. I have seen him as a
public official in Multnomah coun-
- have seen him in the boxing
ing. / have seen him as a brake
nan of the passenger trains. l new
II have seen him when his deport-
nent was other than gentlemanly.
md until his detractors are willing
o submit their case to proper tri-
'unals I decline to take their word
n this matter.
Every saloon in the city except one
vas actively at work in behalf OF
Best. Evans in the performance Of
lis duty compelled some of the sa-
oon managers, and many of their
'oters, to swear in their votes. The
public can well understand what then
occurred. The howl began against
evans, in the beginning solely for DO.
itical effect. Best saw his opportu-
lity, and became personally active.
lie ran from ward to ward with the
tory 1t was a slick trick had it
nded there. Unfortunately when
he polls closed, the saloons opened.
md whisky began to flow, the stu
.tion got beyond control. and nov
Best and his cohorts are bowling
Evans, and defaming the Mont.
,omery supporters, in order to divert
ttention from the near riot to
which their graceless scheme brought
hem But whoever was responsible
or that mob must not escape The
tate has a duty to perform.
Upon that portion Of the Tribune
etter which refers to the McComas-
episode l shall not COM
nent 1t Is now before the courts
With its merits the press has no
Onger any part. Let US hope that
,ut of this fire there may come pun
ication, and that Pendleton may
10 ITAI1