East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-06-04

Judge Stephen A. Lowell strikes a
key note in the matter Of popular leg
islatiOn in the following communica-
ton to the East Oregonian on the
matter of limiting the number of ini-
tiative measures which may be sub
mitted to the voters in one election.
His communication is as follows:
Pendleton, June 4, 1908.
To the Editor:
| beg the courtesy of your columns
to suggest an amendment to the law
Of the state providing for the initia-
tive and referendum to the effect that
there shall be a limitation upon the
number of measures which shall be
presented to the people at any one
election.
We have at the election just passed
been called upon to vote upon IS
separate measures and, while the re-
suit, so far as this county is concern
ed, is generally right, it is apparent
from conversation with voters that
many did not vote at all, that others
voted to some extent blindly, and
some voted exactly opposite to their
inteDtiOE. Such a condition indicates
that while the people desire to do
right. they have neither the time nor
the inclination to study such a num-
Der of subjects as has at this time
been presented.
/ believe absolutely in the integrity
ana good sense of the people and de-
sire TO see our present system contin-
Ued. and a limitation of the number
of subjects to be voted on at any one
election would be no attack upon the
principle, but rather provision for
the reasonable exercise of a valuable
power by the people.
know that the legislature hesi-
tates to amend laws which the people
have enacted, especially as touching
the initiative and referendum provis-
recommend that the people
themselves act in the matter through
the initiative, and l believe that the
great mass of the voters would readi-
ly sustain an amendment limiting the
of measures to be presented
at any one election to six or even four.
1t is too early yet to know exactly
what the result has been upon all the
which the people voted upon
on Monday, but an analysis of the
vote in this county shows that the
result has been eminently satisfactory.
| do not mean to say that the ma
iorty vote has in all cases been in
accord with my Judgment, for l think
that the appropriation for armories
should have been sustained. and | can
see no good reason why the member
ship of the supreme court should not
be increased from three to five. and
believe women ought to have the
privilege of voting if they desire to
do so, and l am of the opinion that
of the legislature should not
be paid at least enough to cover their
expenses while in the performance of
public duties, and l regard compul- |
sorry acceptance of statement No. 1 as
farcial, but these are matters upon |
which men may very properly disa-
gree and If mistake has been made |
n them, they can be corrected later.
In any event the result in these |
,ases leaves conditions substantially |
rs they are and the state will be no |
worse off for the result of the vote at
east. The voters of this county very !
refuted the "open town"
amendment by more than 500 ma
ority.
II the total vote of the state shall |
De substantially as that in this county, |
We all have reason to congratulate
ourselves upon the demonstration that
he institutions in the state have not |
'een placed in Jeopardy by the adop-
ion of the initiative and referendum.
think all agree, however, that in or
Ter to get the best legislation there
must be opportunity for the exercise
If more considerate judgment and |
hat limitation such as is above sug-
rested should in some manner be |
cached.
Respectfully,
STEpuEN TOWETJ