The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-01-23
FAVOR HEROIC MEASURES.

The populist members of the legisla-
ture have define their principles in
manifesto issued to the peoples party
of Oregon. The manifesto is signed
by two senators and twelve representa-
tiyes, and reads as follows:
"The undersigned, your members
elect to the legislative assembly, ask
your loyal support and that of all good
citizens in our contest for such an Or
ganization of the house as we believe
will result in economical and remedial
legislation that will make an honest
vote and fair count possible in Or
egon. We are contesting for fair or
ganization of the house, in order to
make possible the passage OF the Bing-
ham registration bill, the Holt judges
of-election bill, and an amendment to
the constitution providing for direct
law-making by the people by means OF
the initiative and referendum in its
optional form.
"We are assured by eminent lawyers
that the Bingham registration bill is
constitutional, and likely to be effect
i've. The Holt bill allows county GEN.
tral committees of each OF the three
principal political parties to designate
one judge of election in each precinct,
and committees of the two principal
parties TO each name one clerk OF
election in each precinct. The initia-
tive and referendum need no explana-
tion to Oregon populists. These meas
we believe to be all-important in cb-
tanning honest elections and control
by the people of lawmaking in Oregon,
and thereby preserving our liberties.
The situation is this:
"Last June the republican party
elected 80 members of the house of re-
representatives.. Only % of this number
have agreed to act together in organiz'
| ing the house. Part of the remaining
10 republican members support MIR.
Bourne and part do not suppors any
candidate The populist and demo
cratic members are staying out until
such time as republican majority may
agree upon candidate of its own fol
speaker, or until sufficient number
of them unite with US to assure
Bourne's election which we believe
will enable us to obtain the measures
herein named. AS long as republicans
are thus divided, and it is possible
that we may, by preventing organiza'
ton, finally elect Mr.. Bourne, and
probably obtain the legislation before
mentioned, we feel it to be our duty to
the people of Oregon to stay out
wages or no wages. With this know
ledge of the facts, we feel that we are
entitled to your support for ourselves
and our allies"
The measures they have adopted.
and which they ask the people oi
Oregon to endorse, are what might be
termed heroic: but it is questionable
if the ends they propose to accomplish
justify the means. Some OF the legis-
lation they demand is wholesome, for
instance the Bingham registration bill
and the Holt bill providing for the ap.
pointment of election officers, are
merito-ious measures; but we fail to
see the connection between this RENE
dial legislation and the election oi
Jonathan Bourne as speaker of the
house. When the possibility of the
passage of any remedial legislation
hinges upon the election of any in
dividual, especially one whose political
record is somewhat clouded, the sin
cerity of those clamoring for its pas
sage is liable to be questioned. il
would be about as consistent to insist
that the enactment of fair election
law or a just tax law depended upor
the election of Mr.. Simon as presiden
of the senate. The manifesto of the
populists would have been accepted
with better grace, had they ommitted
10 say that ''as long as the republican,
are divided, by preventing organiza
tion, may we finally elect Mr.. Bourne.
But this statement indicates that Mr
Bourne has too great a hold upol
them; that his election is of more i'm
portance than the legislation the.
pretend to want. Their heroic meas
ures will hardly meet the approval o
the people when based upou. such I
pretext.