East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-01-31

The following circular letter 10 lht
voters of Oregon has just been issued
by the Peoples Power league of Ore
gon. in urging the adoption of four
excellent measures which Will be be-
fore the people for their votes at the
coming state election:
The members of the Peoples Pow
Ell league respectfully ask your vote
for the following measures on he Of
ficial ballot: The recall amendment
to the constitution; bill for law in
structing members of the legislature
TO vote for and elect the candidates
FOR United States senator selected by
the people at the general elections;
proportional representation amend
ment TO the constitutions Huntley
bill for law for purity of elections
and prevention of corrupt practices
This league is largely composed Of
the same group of men who proposed
the initiative and referendum amend
ment in 1902. the direct primary law
in 1904 and home rule for cities and
other measures of the Peoples power
league of 1906. Its object is to COM
plete the direct power Of the voters
Of Oregon over their state and local
government in all its branches and
officers. Many of our members were
with Ed Bingham in his agitation for
the Australian ballot law and the
registration law.
BY the adoption of the recall
amendment the people will take pow
er to discharge any elected officer
and to choose his successor at a spe-
cial election called by themselves for
any reason that seems to them suffi-
cient II is substantially the Los An
geles plan adopted in 1908 and which
has since been followed by many
cities of California, including San
Francisco at the November election
of 1907; by Seattle in 1906; Lewiston
Idaho. 1907: Grand Rapids, Michi-
gan. 1906; all the cities Of Iowa Of
$4,000 population or over by general
law of 1907. see Am. Pol. Sci Re-
view for Nov. 1907. page 80. The
people Of one ward in Los Angeles
once discharged a boodling alderman
by this method. It has not been ne
cessary to use it since.
If you vote for Statement No.
every politician in oregon and every
member of the legislature will know
and remember that you understand
and intend to keep the statement No
4 II,
you will select your United States
senator's and require the members Of
the legislature to choose and formal
~ elect the candidates for L. S. SEN
ator whom YOU select at your gen.
eral elections.
For Better Representation.
BY voting for the proportional rep
resentation amendment, the people
will resume their power to make such
laws as will enable every organiza.
dou of citizens, as well as every po-
litical party. TO elect members Of the
legislature IN p-cpGs,5l o the num-
Der II the supporters in the state;
then If an organization has one-six-
tieth Of the voters ii will be able to
elect one representative; but to elect
50 OF the so representatives as one
party did at the last election, it must
have 80 of every so voters in the
state: the people will also have pow
er. under this amendment, to make
laws requiring an actual majority for
the election of any or all public off
GERS. Practical methods have been
invented by which these things are
done In some counties.
In the legislature Of Oregon there
are but few men who were elected
because Of their special knowledge or
experience in the science or condi-
Cons Of agriculture, labor, transport
tation, banking. merchandise, teach
ing or preaching. OF the 90 mem
bers, SO We're elected principally be- |
cause they we're republicans and |
seven because they were democrats.
It might not be quite so bad If /
even the political parties we're justly |
represented; but $4,000 men Gin !
round numbers) voting the republi- /
can ticket elected SO Of our so rep /
resentatives at the last election, /
while 10000 opposition voters, dem
ocrats. socialists and prohibitionists,
were able TO elect only one represen-