Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-06
DIRECT LEGISLATION IN OREGON


Eon, We understand. l. TO give q lee
lure In this city. In the near future
/, under the auspices of the Direct Legs
I alton League Of Utah His subject viii
. 5o "discet legislation"
Tive Direct Legislation League Of
F, rth by the way. Is an organization
/, v which Carl Badger is president
+ Frank p Stephens, vice president; y
( y Dresser. secretary; Henry W. law
. 'cr,o treasurer, and Judge j. NJ Bow
4 ran. Prof J. II. Paul. Jcrold 1NtUher
I'D Mrs II j. Hayward executive
b 'omrllttce members. It's purpose ls
20 educate the voters of the state 10
he Advantages Of legislation directly
BY the people. point out what Il has
accomplished elsewhere and what use
AN be made OF IL In Utah"
Senator Bourne delivered speech on
hat subject In the United states sen.
ite. on Thursday, May s. last. in winch
ic described the government SYSTEM Of
oregon as the best in the world today
lis address here will presumably be-
long the lines of the speech In the
'cnute
Oregon has the Australian baIot
vhich insures secrecy, II has the d.
ect primary; the law requires regis
ration prior 20 voting In either the
;eneral or the primary election. and
rovides that before voting in a party
Urinary the voter must. under oath.
ogister his party afnliation. Regis.
ration begins ave months prior 10 the
eneral election. A voter may regis.
Or either by appearing at the ONCE q,
he county clerk or by signing regis,
ration blanks before a notary ruhl,o
justice or the peace. Upon the regis
ration books are entered the full name
the voter his registration number
ate Of registration. his occupation.
sc. nativity, date and place OF natural.
cation, II any, and his place OF resi-
ence number Of provisions are
made to guard against fraud. Oregon
lso has the initiative and referendum
hat is TO say. given number OF vot-
r. may by petition. exercise Ieeisla-
i've Initiative. and cause any mea sure
be referred 10 the voters for An
'roval or rejeotion. An Initiative ne
ition must be signed by 2 per cent
Z the legal voters. as shown by the
'ote for supreme Judge at the last pre-
eding general election. and filed with
he secretary OF state not less than lou,
nonths before the election A reror.
ndum petition need be signed by only
per cent OF tho voters and hled
glth the secretary OF state within nine
y days after final adjournment Of tho
legislature which passed the Bill on
ehich the referendum Il demanded. The
seislature may Itself refer 70 the nAople
my act passed by Il The veto pcwor
the governor does not extend to any
Measure referred to the people. II f.
urther, the duty OF the secretary of
tate To mail 10 every registered voter
pamphlet containing Il copy Of the
aeasure To be voted on. The propon-
nus and opponents Of the law have the
light to insert In the pamphlet, at the
ctual cost to themselves OF paper aud
printing only, such arguments as they
ee NJ to make. These pamphlets must
@ mailed not later than hfty-fve days
efore a general election and twenty
avs before special election.
one of the peculiar situations IN Ore
on arises from the fact that
he Legislators may sign state
nent binding them 10 vote for
he candidate for the United
ltates Senate who has received the
ighest number Of the peoples votes a,
he preceding election. without regard
personal preference. on account OF
his provision, Chamberlain, a Demo
rat, was sent to the Senate from tho
republican state Mr. Bourne explains
detail how this was brought about.
ie is of the opinion, he says, that Re
Hblican opponents Of direct legislation
oted for Chamberlain believing that
selecting a Democrat. they would
revent a Republican Legislature from
atifying the peoples selection. obeylng
he peoples instructions. and electins
= United States Senator the individual.
egardless OF party, that the people
nlght select for that ofice, Thus they
oped to make the primary law odious,
nd sought 10 create what they thought
could be an impossible condition By
orclng upon a Republican Legislature
OF confirmation the popularity desis-
iated Democratic candidate for the
United states Senate They failed"
lenator Bourne said. 80 realize that.
reater than party and Infinitely great
than any Individual, the peoples
hoice becomes a representative OF the
rlnciple and OF the law. that the in
diligence aud integrity Of the whole
lcctoratc OF the state, as well % the
ntegrty and loyalty OF the members
the legislature were at stake and
rom any honorable view point the
mere inumation of the possibility Of
ne legislature or any member OF the
ssisla;ure falling conscientiously 20
ulnll his pledge or Loyalty obey the in
tructions ~ the people would not only
. an insult 90 the Individual menibe
the Legislature. but an insult 10 tho
atelligenee, independence. and phtrl-
fism OF the oregon electorate that
hey would permit such action 70 go
nnotieed or without holding tho eul-