Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-21

fitness for the greatest boon sn earth
ly power can confer-American citizen
ship. II was easy 20 defeat this insid.
> ioug enemy. Then Democrats were
more numerous in that legislature than
the present one, and there were many
IPopulists also. and with a few indie
pendent Republicans the attempt was
smotbered In negative votes.
Since that time, up TO the present
day, no convention, state or county, in
lOregon has ventured to express itself
as dissatisfied with our present man
ncr Of voting. No patriot. arose among
ms TO set forth the iniquity of the sys-
TEN. The enemies Of the secret ballot
have come out into the open. Yet in
every legislature session since the en-
actment Of this law the attempt has
been made, and always originating in
Portland, 10 rush through an amend
meut similar 10 that defeated in 1893.
IN the question were before the peo.
| pie Of Oregon for settlement by vote
they would indicate their satisfaction
with the law as II stands emphatically
Legislatures and Legislators always
look or hope for vast public charity
10 cover and overlook their sins. The
people are, after all, easily reconciled
TO the pilferings from their rights by
the most willy politician He who can
frame Legislation for his own eupidity |
and override the well-known desires |
and paramount interest Of his coinstit. |
uents becomes after many hair.
breadth escapes a leader in politics |
Government and legislation are pro-
foundly simple things II is but the
chieanery and craft Of rognes that
makes tho system 80 complex that the
left hand knows not what the right
hand does.
in comatose comment Of the last
Legislature, probably when the honora-
ble senate Of the state was about en-.
tering for the ceremony Of a senate
rial vote, or when the morning paper
had just arrived and was receiving the
scrutiny Of the members 10 see what
the cartoonist had done with them, n
measure practically obiterating the
spirit and purpose Of the present elec
tion law Was passed. Governor Cham
bcrlain vetoed the bill. Twothirds Of
the men who voted for il, for whatev.
or reason, would undo that act today
II il were possible. They know, as ev.
cry intelligent man knows, that If the
process Of making mark
In square or circle, thus endorsing a
partisan nomination Of straight tick
ct, regardless of the men upon that
ticket, shall be the manner Of voting
prescribed by our law, Il will be sense
less waste to maintain the form of Sc
ereey la our elections, and we may as
well march up TO the polls tagged and
branded Ms in the good old days But
good sense prevailed and the govern.
or's veto was not overrulod. The old
law stands Il,
There are many who doubt the oper.
alton Of the present registration law.
Under IL feWer and fewer are rcgis-
tered each year. More and more are
sworn In on election day That law
should be amended M that the well.
known resident citizen need not regis. j
ter every two years or oftoncr. There
are many who deny the validity or the d
apcmtiyencss Of tho new direct pri. d
mary law. They believe that Il should q
bo amended or repealed hut there ,
are none to find substantial fault with I
The present Australian ballot law n e
Ia simple provisions found in the old r
blue volume In the state library, {
we're followed as 90 registration aud ,
aominations, Il would bc found 20
contain a remedy for tho misat lcgis
alton ou those subjects, What ore
,on needs is not tho repeal Of the Aus.
ralian ballot law, but the extension
Il its we'll known and clearly defined
principles TO the subject OF rcgistra.
Ion and nomination hy direct vote. y