Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-07-10
A USELESS MEASURE

"A
The four Circuit Judges in Multi
nomah County did good job when
they gave the ''solar plexus" to the
initiative and referendum. 1t is
sincerely to be hoped that the Sup
RENE Court will take like course
in the matter, and hit it jolt that
will put it to sleep for all time to
come. In the first place, the adop-
ton of the initiative and referen-
DUN was nothing in the world but
an impractical piece of Populistic
foolishness. Such a measure has
never been needed in Oregon, and,
it has caused nothing but worry
and confusion since its adoption.
The measure was first advocated
in this State during the palmy days
of Populism, one w. S. U'Ren, Of
Clackalnas county, being its chief
exponent and agitator. Later on
it was taken up and boosted by
State Senator George Brownell, who
hoped to boost his own political
fortunes by grandstand play.
The Democrats endorsed it in the
hope of catching the Socialist votes,
and the Republicans recommended
it in their platform because they
were afraid to leave it out. In this
way the measure was finally placed
before the people and was endorsed
by an overwhelming vote. The
newspapers Of all three political
parties supported it almost without
exception, and thousands of men
voted for it, at the same time ad-
mitting that they knew little about
it and cared even less. 1t was in
their party platform, and farther
than that they were not concerned
about it. The OBSERVER is the only
newspaper in Oregon we can now
call to mind that opposed the
measure. In the issue Of April Is,
1902, this paper said:
"The proposed initiative and
referendum amendment to the con-
stitution of Oregon has been en-
dorsed and recommended by the
Republican state convention, the
Democratic state convention, and
the Socialist state convention. Not
withstanding all these endorse
ments, the OBSERVER still looks
upon the measure as piece OF
Populistic cfoolishness-impractical,
and not earnestly demanded by
the people"
Just how many thousand votes
were recorded against the measure
through the publication Of this
paragraph will probably never be
definitely known. Certain It is
that the number influenced by the
OBSERVERS opposition did not ex-
ceed 5000, for that was the total
number of votes cast against the
amendment. The people were
anxious for the great REFORM"
and they were SURE they would
never be satisfied until they got it.
The result is we'll known. 1t was
no sooner adopted by the Legis.
lature than its impractical work
ings became apparent, and it was
not long until those who had taken
the most active part in securing its
adoption began to regret their
strenuous efforts in its behalf. |
Great and important public enter
prises, in which the very honor of
the State were at stake, were
threatened, and the delay thus
caused was embarrassing and annoy
ing in the extreme. 1t has re-
quired only the few brief months
between the adjournment of the
Legislature and the present time
to demonstrate the utter useless
ness and impracticability of this
measure. The Initiative and re-
fundum," as the late Governor
Pennoyer contemptuously styled |
it, is not popular with the people
of Oregon, and the decision of the
Judges in Multnomah county is
everywhere received with a feeling
of quiet satisfaction. The people
have had enough of it already. In
the constitution of a vigorous and
progressive state like Oregon, there
is no place for any relics ofdefunct
Populism.