East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-09
URGE POPUL|STS
To HELP BRYAN
PEOPLES PARTY LEADERS
ISSUE PROCLAMATION
Messrs. Nelson, Barton, Kroner, Hare
and Ogle Call "BattlescaTed Vet
crans' Into Line for Democratic
Candidates, Holding They Stand for
the Good OF the Masses.

oregon pOpullSt leaders OF DyBOnt
days are now anxious TO have all oi
those who followed the banner Of the
peoples party vote for Bryan in the
coming election. AS an effective
means Of bringing such actions about
they have just issued the following
proclamation to their former political
brethren:
TO the Populists Of the State OF
Oregon-In compliance with the wish.
IS Of many old-line populists, and in
] obedience to what seems TO be a pat
riotic duty. your committee Of four
years ago now asks your serious con-
sideration of the following sugges-
| tions:
Momentous issues affecting the per-
petuity of the rights Of the people are
dependent on the results Of the pend
ing presidential campaign. The old
populists who courageously led the
vanguard for the peoples rights, just
reforms and the square deal 20 years
ago cannot remain silent now.
hIHht Idit IOilCg htdilSs
Dlvesting the platforms Of the two
old parties of their unnecessary YER
blage. and stripping the contest Of all
its partisan clap-trap for catching the
popular ear, we clearly discern three
distant tendencies represented by the
presidential candidates Of these par
ties. The ideas and policies represent
and advocated by Mr.. Taft tend to-
ward a centralized government re-
stricting the rights and power OF the
people. while the ideas and policies
advocated by Mr.. Bryan tend in the
opposite direction. seeking to enlarge
the rights and power Of the people.
The republican candidate, Mr.. Taft,
frankly admits that he is opposed to
direct legislation by the people under
the principles of the initiative and
referendum, and to the election of
United States senators by direct vote
of the people, and the publication of
campaign contributions.
In public address on this subject
a little over year ago, on August II,
1907, at Oklahoma City IN the state
OF Oklahoma, Mr. Taft said:
You of course. will do as you
please, but IL my advice is worth any
thing to you. I'd vote No because
your constitution does not furnish
sufficient power to the proper admin
istration by public officers, and when
you put the initiative and referendum
in the constitution you give the people
power beyond what they can safely
exercise. You give them the right
to interfere with public officers, and
they will destroy your government
beyond stability. safety and sound !
ness"
After six years trial there is no
clause in the constitution of the state !
Of Oregon that would today receive 80
large a popular vote as the initiative
and referendum.
Taft ON Direct Elections.
And on the question of electing
senator's by direct vote Of the people.
Mr. Taft said in a public lecture at
Yale university some years ago, that
NO law should be passed unless it
lad the support Of a majority of the
people, and any law enacted without
popular assent behind ii would be a
lullity." And as senators cannot be so
elected by the people without the
United States senate first submits the
Necessary law, it follows that all eff
orts to select United States senators
'nder our direct primary laws are.
ccording to Mt Taft, useless null-
les,
on these two great questions. the
most important of all those at issue
n the present campaign, Mr.. Bryan,
he democratic candidate, is directly
pposed to Mr. Taft. and stands SOL
ily with the people, and has publicly
advocated direct legisla-
ion and popular election of United
tates senator's for the last 20 years. /,
IN these two great issues, so vital TO
he rights and liberties of every free
IAN, every old populist should make g
he choice The two great parties so
vertop and overshadow all others
hat 1t would only belittle the import !
nee of the present campaign to re-
n to the tariff, currency or other
ackneyed subjects. |
1t is to the honor and glory of our i
tate that it was the first of all the t
Iates of our union to carry the star 4
pangled banner of the people's q
ghts to the front, and to triumphant a
ictory in constitutional enactments. c
,rever securing to the people the \
ght to make their own laws and 5
hoose their own senators by direct O
gislation and the direct primary. And t
Is to the honor and glory of the
Id populists that they led the battl, a
'r these rights of the people. And i
ow half the states of the union. and e
lore than so cities of our country. II
re following where Oregon led the
recession. We cannot now afford to S
Ike any backward step. e
And now for these considerations. 8
nd at this crisis of public affairs we t
ppeal to our fellow citizens the bat t
e-scarred veterans of the old popu-
st party and respectfully and cam
idly submit the question: "Ought
e not to vote for William ]. Bryan.
lther than for William H. Taft"
Respectfully submitted,
A.P. NELSON.