Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-08-18
Text of Statement
Halls statement follows:

tdluIt.
Text of Statement
HalFs statement follows:
II have been asked repeatedly
what my future course would be
In view of the abandonment of
the election contest suit in the
circuit court of Marion county.
ut is unfortunate that 1t is not
possible to appeal to a higher
court some of the various decis-
ions of the circuit court which
have been handed down in inter
probation of the election laws.
The fundamental object sought to
be obtained by the primary law
that of separating the parties so
that each party can select It's own
standard bearers without inter-
ference from other parties has
been wiped out by one of the cir
cult court decisions from which /
am advised there is no appeal. 1t
has come as a shock to my sup
porters to learn that the court
can stamp as legal the invasion of
the republican primary by thou
sands of Democrats and members
of other parties for the sole pur-
pose of casting their vote upon
religious an un-American
grounds introduced into the cam
paign by Governor Olcott's vari-
GUS proclamations and thus force
upon the voters Of Oregon prac-
tically a second democratic nomi-
nee. Neither does 1t accord with
the apparent intention of that
statute prohibiting priests,
preachers and officers of churches
from influencing voters except by
public speech or public print to
receive from the court a decision
that proof in such cases cannot
include Interrogation of either
the priests themselves or of the
voters themselves as to how such
voters cast their ballots, as coun-
sci have advised the only con-
elusive proof in respect to this
matter must be the admission by
each voter illegally influenced
that he was coerced.
Reregistration Allowed.
Prior to primary day Portland
newspapers carried the statement
that the election authorities held
that reregistration to parties 9TH
er than those in which the voter
was registered would not be per
mitted on election day, but IL ap-
pears that in those precincts In
Marion county where the support
ers of Olcott were otherwise ad-
vised they were permitted to vote
and did vote for Mr., Olcott. This
reregistration appears to have
been permitted generally in only
few of the counties.
Throughout the campaign, as
well as since the election, have
refralned from speaking or writ
ing a word that would be fairly
interpreted as encouraging relig-
ious or other dissensions. 1t is
absolutely true that / did take
and still take-a positive definite
stand in favor of the so-called
compulsory school bin and of all
those principles OF the American
public school system involved in
the proposed passage of that bill,
because l know that the public
school system is one of the funda-
mental factors In our system of
government, and l favor compul-
sorry attendance therein at least
IN the primary grades. l believe
In teaching pure Amerieanism to
all pupils, beginning at an early
age. and making every effort to
strengthen and build up this typi
cal American institution, I am
of no religious preju-
lices, but | place my loyalty to
he American public school sys-I
.em above the threat Of religious
Ready to Serve.
so far as any office is con-
erued. l have no ambitions, ri
/ is possible for me. however, to
lrther a principle or advance a
ause which will i,esp or improve
y fsllow-citizen or enable me to
svote my best efforts TO better
Ig the present economic situation
the state, it would appear to
, my duty to sacrifice my per-
nal desires and think only of