Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1916-11-14
WILLIAMS GETS CREDIT
JOURNAL SAYS RALPH RESPON-
SIBLE FOR REPUBLICAN WIN
National Committeeman Early Recog-
nized Necessity of Progressive
Vote and Went After It.

battle has drifted away and the peo-
pie can see the political map Of the
nation as remade by the election re-
turns, Oregon stands as the only state
west of South Dakota which will cast
its electoral vote for Charles E.
Hughes. Largely the same in popular
conception of governmental issues,
Washington to the north and Cali
fornia to the south stepped into the
Wilson column in the face of over
whelming partisan odds, and those
who follow the reason for political
change are seeking the cause for Ore
CONS lonely position, surrounded on
all sides and far to the east with
Wilson states as she is.
Several causes contributed to the
result, notably the calamity how'll
which was raised during the last
weeks Of the campaign. Another
and very important factor was the
adroit strategy which early in the
campaign captured for Hughes
large percentage of the Progressive
party voters of Oregon. The credit
for this strategy belongs to Ralph E.
Williams, Republican national com
mitteeman, who realized early in the
fight the vital Importance Of the Pro-
gressive vote. He received efficient
cooperative support and assistance
from Judge Charles L. McNary, chair
man of the Republican state central
committee.
When Ralph Williams left for Chi
cago in June to attend the meeting
Of the committee on arrangements,
preparatory to the assembling Of the
national convention, he made public
announcement of his intention to rec
ommend that the convention seat Ore
CONS delegates to the Progressive
convention, as alternates in the Re-
publican convention. His. recommep-
dations were adopted, and the Pro-
gressive delegates were seated and
made to feel at home in the conven-
ton.
Then Williams went on to New
York to attend the meeting of the na-
tional committee, and again he recon-
mended that the Progressives be Civ
en- representation both upon the ma
tional campaign committee and upon
the different state campaign commit
tees. His advice was followed on the
national committee and in some cases
by state committees. When he re-
turned to Portland, he met with the
state committee, and recommended
that campaign comminttee be Gre
ated to consist of the 10 members Of
the executive committee of the Re
publican state central committee, and
five progressives selected by the pro-
gressive leaders Of the state. His
suggestions were followed and A. E.
Clark, Thomas B. Neuhausen, Arthur
I. Moulton, David L. Povey and Frank
H. Lewis were named as the repre-
sentatives of the Progressive party ON
that committee. In addition to this,
Judge McNary, who has always work.
ed with the Progressive wing of his
party, was elected as state chairman.
From that time on the campaign
together with the Repub-
lican state central committee, Will
Iiams and McNary, worked harmoni-
ously 10 weld together the formerly
divided Irregular" and progressive
elements Of the party.
When Judge Hughes came to Ore
yon, the Progressives led him through
the ceremonies incident to his visit.
When Mr.. Fairbanks was here, the
Progressives we're again in the fore
front. When anything was to be
done, Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Neuhausen,
Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Povey, Mr.. Moulton
and other prominent Progressives,
we're consulted, advised with and sent
% the front, while the old guard mem
Ders shifted the battle smoke from the
reserve trenches far in the rear.
Down in California the old guard
leaders insisted on snubbing Hiram
Johnson, drew Hughes into the mis-
take of also snubbing johnson, and
ost the state to Hughes. Up in Wash
ington, the old guard leaders did the
same thing, and Wilson carried the
state. In Oregon, in spite Of the
baekbauliDg Of the 0regonian and its
advisers and Of the rockribbed re-
of the state, Williams and
McNary, gathered the Progressives to
heir bosoms and their confidence, and
Wilson lost Oregon. Which explains
IN fact why II is that Oregon is the
,nly state west Of South Dakota that
i'd not 90 to Wilson.-Orepon Jour-