The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
HON. GEORGE E CHAMBERLAIN.

amendment was submitted 20 the people
al the general election held in June, 1892
and was carried. the vote being 50 OF for
the amendment and 5.s5S against H. Two
years later the people enacted a primary
law. which provides that nominations by
political parties for county and State Of
fees must be made by the people them
selves. who go 10 the polls throughout
Oregon on a specified day and vote for the
men OF their choice In 1906 the Republicans
and Democrats nominated candidates
for the United States Senate. Jonathan
Bourne, the Republican nominee. carried
Oregon at the general election which fol-
lowed, defeating his Democratic opponent.
and the legislature. without loss of time
or scandal. elected him 20 the Senate.
The railways didn't spend a cent and
Oregon was not disgraced
Would the initiative and referendum
be practicable IN national legislation"
Il can see that il would be difficult al
times to apply the principle 20 the country
as whole Still, proposed amendments
to the Constitution Of the United States
ere always submitted 20 the people. and
in that respect al least, the referendum
has been tested and approved. Il seems
10 me that its application might IN safety
go even further The House OF Repre-
sentatives has adopted FIVE resolutions 20
submit a constitutional amendment TO the
people providing for the popular election
Of Senators In Congress. The resolutions
have never been acted upon in the Senate.
or course the country believes that the
Senators are afraid of losing their jobs
There will have to be reasonable and
proper concessions 10 the people. or Con-
gress may be compelled 10 accept the in
itiative and referendum as a permanent
part and function of the national govern
ment"
Mr.. TAFT carried oregon By a plurality
of 240o6" 7 said. "and the Republicans
control the legislature. yet you. a Demo
crat. were elected 20 the Senator
MY plurality in the State was 800.
Mr Cake. the Republican nominee. and I
were directly voted for by the people
The legislative assembly. however. was
almost solidly Republican. Our primary
law provides that candidates for the legis-
lature may remain silent with respect to
what they VIII do II elected concerning
their votes for United States Senator's. or
they may sign one Of two statements.
The first statement contains the following
promise: I viii always vote for that can
didate for United States Senator in Con
gress who has received the highest num-
Der OF the peoples votes for that posi-
tion without regard to my indi-
viduai preference. The second statement
permits the member OF the legislature to
consider the vote Of the people as moth
ing more than a recommendation.
Most or the members Of the leeisla.
ture elected last November signed the
first statement Efforts were made to in
duce Republican legislators TO reject their
pledges. Men came 10 me in great alarm.
My battle / said. is over. 1 carried the
State. I shall not leave my Office was
still governor-'either for conference or
effort IN the matter. The case Is up to
the legislature. ] am not in il, personally.
but the people Of Oregon are When
the legislative assembly met men came
in from the foothills and filed the corri-
dors OF the StatehouSe, the hall OF the
representatives. and the senate chamber.
Republican told me thar he sat i'm
front OF another Republican member who
was undecided as to whom he should
support for Senator. II you are against
Chamberlain he said TO his friend. give
me a tip ten seconds before the begin
ming Of the ballot Some OF those fellows
standing up near the door may take a
shot al you. and ] should like 10 have
time enough 10 crawl under my desk.
So I was elected.
Did yoa put stress on your Democracy
while campaigning among the people?r
Il said was a Democrat and had
always been one. but that no great is
sues separated the two leading political
Nh -so,.