Arizona republican., 1910-09-05

Former Governor Theodore T. Geer of oregon will address the citizens of Phoenix at the City Hall plaza at eight o'clock tonight on the oregon Plan" the initiation. referendum and recall out of which the plan grew and of which Governor Geer was one of the earlier advocates No man is more familiar with its operations and results. Mir. Geer will speak at Mesa tomorrow night.
 MT. Geer arrived in the city yester- day and will remain until Wednesday morning. For several years MT. Geer has been one of the foremost public figures in the state of oregon. In fact for thirty years he has taken a prominent part in the affairs of that state He was elected mem ber of the Oregon house of repre- sentatives in 1880; again in 1888. 1890 and 1892 He was speaker of the house in 1891. He was a repub- liean presidential elector in 1898 and was chosen messenger to carry the vote to Washington. He was elected governor of the state in 1899 serving four years.
 NIT. Geer is regarded as one If the ablest and cleanest men of Oregon. He was a farmer and has always stood with the reform forces.
 Mir. Geer in spite of his political activity had devoted much time to Journalism as editor of the Salem oregon Statesman and also the Pen dleton Daily Tribune.
 ONLY PARTLY RESPONSIBLE
 MT. Greer has been spoken of as the father of the initiative, referen- dunn and recall and he was therefore naturally sought by a Republican re- porter yesterday as an authority on a matter which is disturbing the voters of this territory. He disclaim- ed paternity of the principles of di- rect legislation in oregon. He said nearly all of the republicans there were equally to blame.
 T have heard" he said, that strong effort is being made to put it into your constitution and ! am amazed that you should unnecessarily try to engraft something upon your constitution that imperils your chance of admission. I do not think that congress would regard it favorably If you must have direct legislation there will hs ample opportunity to get it after you have become a state. It is not now or never with you Why take chances? Get statehood and then make your constitution to suit the majority.
 T noticed another thing; one of your democratic papers last night un- der flaring headlines predicted a Great Democratic Victory Constitu tions are not supposhed to be formed bv parties If the constitution should be submitted to a republican congress and president as democratic con- stitution. the result of a Great Dem ocratic Victory that fact would not greatly conduce to the approval of the document. You want in the first place a constitution with which con- gress can find no fault"
 Has the initiative and referendum improved the character of legislation in Oregon" MT Gear was asked
 ER-SKELTER LAWS
 Tt has not" he replied; 'it has re- suited in helter skelter legislation, which comparatively few voters have understood We have now thirty two bills to be voted or at the com ing election. Under a crude arrange ment for acquainting the voters with the character of the bills, the secretary of state issues pamphlets to the 100000 voters of the state These pamphlets contain the bills and arguments for and against them These arguments are sent to the sec