Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-13
County Fights Are Local.

County Fights Are Local.
In determining how he should vote
on the county division measures, the
Eof oregon, showing counties, sections
townships and ranges. After he has
painstakingly traced out the boun-
daries proposed for the new counties
and the portions of counties proposed
for annexation to other counties, he
will probably still feel the need Of a
personal examination of conditions in
each locality affected. On the measure
designed to make the voters of the dis
tricts affected by proposed county
boundary change the sole arbiters of
the question, the voter will probably
not have much difficulty in arriving at
a conclusion.
The principal measures to be voted
on under the head of labor legislation
is what is commercially known as an
employers liability bill 1t is of that
character of legislation that nearly
every Legislature wrestles with and in,
discussions of which almost invariably
either the employing class or the la
boring class is accused of trying to
gain the better of the ether. Only an
affirmative argument is presented in
the official pamphlet, and this by the
Oregon State Federation of Labor. The
voter who has no knowledge of the
practice of law, and who wishes to
hear both sides, might do well, if he can
afford it, to obtain, before making up
his mind how to vote, briefs from at
least two lawyers on the subject; one
from the class of attorneys referred to
by political stump speakers as "corpor-
alton lawyers" and the other from
the class called incorporation law
yers." Then, if still in doubt, he can
vote mo" on the one measure and
yes on the other, which provides for
a commission to study the question.
Advice of Lawyers Needed.
The layman will also probably find
it next to impossible to satisfy himself
on the merits or dement's of the pro-
posed constitutional amendment pro-
viding for reconstruction of the judi
cial systems in Oregon, without OBJ
tanning the advice of one or more COM
petent lawyers,
Under the head of elections are
measures providing for separate des-
5or granting the right of suffrage to
women, for direct nomination of Pres
dental electors, for the creation of
BOARD and the publication of another
magazine to advise the people how to
yote and a scheme for apportioning
,ording to strength of political parties
ind without regard to representation
If communities. For the purpose of
tudying the effect of the enactment of
hese measures, what is known as the
Official Register of State, District and
nasmuch as it gives an abstract of the
ote cast in 1908, provides information
s to representation of different coun-
les in the Legislature, and also con-
aims copy of the present state con-
eretofore mentioned, there has been
eferred to the people the question as
D whether a Circuit Judge in Baker
'ounty shall have an increase of $1,000
year salary. There is no argument
Or or against the bill and consequent
' he who wishes to vote on the ques-
on intelligently will either have to go
r write to Baker County
Finally, there is referred to the peo-
lie by the Legislative assembly the
uestion of calling convention to re-
ise the state constitution. An oppos-
lg argument only is presented, but /
he fact that this year IL amend
tents to the constitution are proposed
lay lead many voters to believe that !
lie Oregon constitution needs revision. q