Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-14
REvOL LUTIONIzE LEGISLATIVE MT TOD
Adoption Proposed Changes Will Make Radical Change in Repre-
Sentaton-Reca|I Measure Will Lift from Office
Al! Who Fail to Do Their DUTY

Drafts of constitutional amendment
and laws sought to be adopted by tn
people of Oregon have been prepared
and are being circulated throughout th'
state by large committee of promi
nent men with view of getting tn,
measure before the voters for their con
sideration. Efforts will be made by
those who have drafted and are pro
noting the measures to form Peoples
Power league and to raise So 900 to de.
fray the expenses OF the coming cam.
paign to be carried on for the success
of the measures.
Included in the list OF the measures
which are being presented are: An
amendment to the state constitution
providing for the recall of unworthy
Office holders; the draft of bill for
the election of United States senators
by peoples instruction; the draf. of a
bill providing for proportional repre-
sentation and majority elections, and a
draft of the Huntley corrupt practice
act.
Those who have compiled the list OF
amendments and bills and are now
sending, them out and asking for the
formation of peoples league are:
Johnathan Bourne, Jr., Earl G. Bron-
augh, jerry Bronaugh, w. G. Bristol,
Lee NJ. Clark, H. w. Drew, G. H.
Gram, Thomas G. Greene, Clyde ".
Huntley, J. E. Hedges, V. R. Hyde,
G. w. Holcomb, Harry Lane, 7. M +.
Leabo, 7. A. Mcbride, Henry f. Nc
CHM, E. S. J. McAllister, F. McKer-
cher, P. Mcdonald, G. M. Orion, B.
Lee Paget, c. Scheubel, Ben Selling,
Alex Sweek, c.. E. s. Wood, Frank
Williams, w. S. U'Ren and John c..
Young.
In discussing the measures which
they have placed before the people the
promoters set out their ideas as fol-
lows:
"We believe all citizens agree that
every political party should be repre-
sented in the government in proportion
to the number of its supporters among
the people; that no political party
should ever have greater majority OF
the officers Of government than it has
of the votes of the people; that the
people should be able to express their
disapproval of any officers acts by re-
calling him from office; that the people
should elect and choose their United
States senator's; that character, and not
the possession of wealth, or the secret
or public supp OFT Of great corporations,
OF wealthy citizens, should be of ad-
vantage to any man aspiring to public
office. The measures herein offered by
members of the Peoples Power league
OF Oregon are expected to aid in obtain
ing thee results"
In discussing the recall amendment
to the constitution the proposers say it
will be second only to the initiative
and referendum. 1t is pointed out that
the people of the state cannot now re-
call an officer once elected without
proving him guilty of crime beyond
reasonable doubt.
1t is poinetd out that almost contin-
ually district attorneys and sheriffs
contend Trey are unable to enforce the
laws, or an assessor says it is impossi-
BILE to assess all property fairly or to
of the burden Ct government. 1t is ar
gued that if one fourth of the voters of
the state or district cou'd bring such
officers face to face with public dis
charge for incompetency they would do
I heir work or else the people would get
officers who would do it for them. 1t !
is asserted that should the law be
passed the mere threat of invoking it !
would be effective in the great major
ity of cases and the people would hear !
less of maintaining the dignity of an
office and more of maintaining it's eff |
cacy.
In the draft itself it is provided that
% per cent of the voters who cast their
votes for an election of justice of the |
Supreme court at the election prior to |
the action for recall may file their pc
tition demanding the recall of an Off
GER who is not enforcing the law.
The petition shall set forth the rea-
sons for demanding the recall and if
the officer does not resign within five
Idys dllCI LILO ming VI tliC pCbiiiOL
then a special election shall be held
within 20 days to determine whether or
net the officer shall be recalled.
On the sample ballots at this election
the petitioners shall set forth in not |
more than 200 words the reasons for |
their action while the officer shall set |
.orth in another 200 words his justiti
.ation for his acts. At this same cleo |
ion other candidates for the Office shall |
De nominated and the one receiving the |
highest vote in nomination shall be |
deemed to be elected.
In the event the accused official re-
,eives the highest number of votes at
he election he shall remain in office.
Petitions of recall may be filed against
members of the legislature after he has
lerved five days or longer in the first
session following his election. In the
,aee OF other officers six months must
,lapse before such petition is filed.
After cne recall petition has been
I'd and election held no other petition
nay be filed against the same officer
lnless the petitioners pay into the pub
Apple Sauce.
Wash but do not peel tart apples.