East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-05-25

A new division of the state into
senatorial and representative districts
through the initiative, new tax reform
laws, normal schol adjustment, good
roads, textbook changes and a null
titude of other public questions will
make the annual session Of the state
grange a memorable and lively meet
ing this year.
The session win convene at Hood
River Tuesday, May 2S, at 10 o'clock
a. m. There will be about 60 dele
gates in attendance. AS all members
of the order are entitled to attend the
session OF the state grange and are
extending the courtesy of the floor, 1t
is estimated that there will be from
1000 to 5000 in attendance.
G. W. Gill has prepared a resolu-
ton which will be introduced early in
the session. 1t reads as follows:
"Whereas, A large proportion Of
the membership of our recent legisla-
lures have shown an utter disregard
and contempt for the rights and inter
ests of the people, letting corporate
interests and private gain weigh
against public good and thus break
ing their pledges made before elec-
ton:
Whereas, Such lack of fidelity in
our law-making body is not only en-
dangering and destroying our CONNER
cial and social progress, but is OPEN
ing the way for the dollar-grabbing,
grating operations of pernicious cor
- 49,
ing their attention to Oregon;
"whereas, We believe that the mall
feasance shown in our legislature is
due in a large degree to wrong sys-
tenn in the manner of their election,
which has given to a combination of
hossAs and ring politicians situated
throughout all the large elites and
towns of the state balance of power
in our legislature:
Whereas We believe a new sys-
tenn for their election such as would
divide the state into so representative
and 80 senatorial single member dis
tricts would for the following reasons
be a lasting reform for the people Of
Oregon:
"First-By creating smaller districts
would bring the choice Of senators
and representatives nearer home to
the people SO that in primary and
general elections the voter would be
better acquainted and informed as to
the qualification Of candidates.
"Second-The people of small dis
trict taking a greater interest in their
member would watch him more close
" and thus cause him to have better
regard for the voters interests.
"Third-Each section of the country
would have its just representation and
no political ring in the city could
keep the balance Of the county from
its just representation.
'Fourth-The expense to become
candidate would be lessened and bet
ter class of men could be induced to
run.
''Fifth-Under the present system
the more thickly populated counties
of the state have long lists of candi-
dates and the average voter not know
ing them marks the first names on the
ballot and the ballot being arranged
alphabetically gives the one heading
the list an undue advantage. Small
districts would remove this evil OF
the present system.
"Sixth-Wisconsin and Kansas have
this plan and the reform legislation In
these states is due in large part to
this system.
Requests New Bill.
Whereas, 1t is self-evident that II
our own legislature represented the
peoples will there would be no need
to resort to the expenses of the initia-
tive and referendum.
Resolved, BY the Oregon state
grange in session assembled, that we
reaffirm our stand for this measure
and that we hereby request and en-
power the executive committee of the
Oregon state grange to frame and ini-
tiate bill for the general election of
1908. such a bill to contain in part
the following provisions:
"First-The state to be divided into
60 representative and 80 senatorial
districts based proportionately upon
the vote cast at the elction of 1908.
"Second-Cities to be divided sep
arately from balance of the county
where such cities are entitled to more
than one member.
''Third-No district to have more