El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-31
OREGON VOTES ON
FIFTY COLUMNS
Of LAWS
6iBsH0
Continued From Page one,


out of II jurors the right to bring ia
verdict in civil cases and directs the
supreme court, when an error appears
In a case from a lower court, to fix
such Judgment as should have been
given In the lower court and not order
rerlal of the case
numerous purely local measures are
submitted from different counties, on
winch the entire state must vote. C's
o. these provides for an increase in
salary for a judge.
As Liberal Men See 1t.
j. b. Adams, of Eldorado, Kans., IN
an address in his home state summed
up the situation as most fair minde Ell
men IN this state look upon it, He said:
Th1s year the people of Oregon are
ID consider the vote upon 80 laws.
either initiated or referred. Two years
ago they voted on 10 laws. A petition
Of percent of the voters, voting at 4
preceding election, initiates a law ard
> percent refers a law already passed'
by the legislature. If there are more
votes for a bill than, against, it be-
comes a law, no matter how small
percent of the total vote cast on the
subject, so that in nearly all instances
a minority of the votes cast enacts 4
statute, so large is the percent of those
not voting either way.
Appropriation Bills Held Up.
-Four years ago nearly every appro-
priation bill passed by tho legislature
was referred to the people by petition.
Pending the referendum, the ap-
preparations were held up, the state
was compelled to stamp its warrants
not paid for want of funds and pay
interest thereon, although the money
was in the treasury, the state univers-
ity was hampered and embarrassed and
the machinery of the government prac-
tically paralyzed.
Oregon at this very hour is awak
ening to her folly and hedging on the
referendum, trying to devise means to
prevent the reference Of SO many
laws.
Oregon Embarrassed.
Oregon is finding out as Kansas
will find out if she tries it, that the
initiative and referendum puts it in
the power of a factious and turbulent
minority, to impede and obstruct the
machinery of government and often
thwart the will of the people. /
mo matter how necessary, how i'm
portant and how Immediately impera-
tive a law may be that is passed by a |
legislature fresh from the people, per- |
cent of the voters, or small, dissatis- |
fled and mischievous minority, can |
hold up the law, suspend and delay Its |
operation and actually for a time |
thwart the will of the majority by a |
farcial reference to the people for |
their approval or rejection.
Intelligent Voting.
Does any reasonable, intelligent
man, knowing the extent of his own
Investigations and his own participa- /
ion, as a citizen, in public affairs, pc
ieve that the people of Oregon can
vote intelligently at the coming cleo
ton on 40 laws? You know by Your
own experience, that not one voter out,i
Of 10 will be even cursorily informed
rs to the nature and contents of half
the bills presented for the considers
ton of the people.
TT was held by a majority of the |
men who wrote one of the platforms
IN this state, that the people of Kan
sas could not vote intelligently. if the |
ballot were too long; that they could !
not or would not inform themselves
Is to the character and ability of the |
"a ndidates; that a short ballot was in /
The interest of good government, and |
hat the election of the railroad CON-
niSsioners and other state officers
should be taken from the people apd |
heir selection vested in the governor.
Il the people of Kansas are not intel
igent enough to vote a long ballot, DO
you suppose they could or would look
nto and investigate the merits of |
10 bills, as the people of Oregon are |
called upon to do at the coming cleo
ion, and pass on them successfully
Ind intelligently?"