The Alaska citizen., 1910-12-26
Pennle lnteIliuent and Fair.

The people are not only intelligent. but fair and honest. When the initiative and referendum was under consideration it was freely predicted by enemies of popular government that the power would be abused and that capitalists would not invest their money in a state where prop erty would be subject to the at tacks Of popular passion and tenn porary whims. Experience has ex- plOded this argument. There has been no hasty or illadvised legisla- tion. The people act calmly and deliberately and with that spirit of fairness which always characterizes a body of men who earn their living and acquire their property by legit- mate means. Corporations have not been held up and blackmailed by the people, as they often have been by legislators. Pinch bills" are unknown. The people of Oregon were never before more prosperous and contcuted than they are today. and never before did the state offer such an inviting field for investment of capital Not cn1y are two trans continental railroads building across the state. but several interurbaT electric lines are under construction and rights of way for others are in demand.
 l have mentioned all of these facts for the purpose of showing that the people of my state, and, I believe, the people of every other state. can be trusted to act intelligently. and honestly upon any question of legis- lation submitted for their approval or disapprOval.
 The initiative and referendum Is but one of the features of popular government in Oregon. It has been the means by which other reforms and progressive laws and constitu- tional amendments have been se- cured, for it has been found that the people can not always get the laws they desire through the legislature, but can get them through resort to the initiative
 Direct Primary Law.
 The next step af,er the adoption of the initiative and referendum was the adoption. in 1904, by vote of 5G,205 10 16.35f, of direct prim- ary law which is designed to super sede the old and unsatisfactory con vention system. The Oregon dir ect primary law provides for a prim- ary election to be held forty-five days prior to the general election at the usual polling places and with the usual three election judges and three clerks in charge, appointed by the county courts. Not more than two judges or clerks can be members of the same political party. Two sets Cf ballots are provided, one for the Democratic party and one for the Republican party. Any party polling 9 per cent. of the vote at the pre- vious election is brought under the provisions of the direct primary law, but thus far only the Democratic and Republican parties are affected by it.
 Any legal voter may become can didate in the primaries for nCmina- ton for any office by filing a petition signed by certain per cent of the voters of his party. If the nomina- ton is far a municipal or county of fee, the petition must include reg istered electors residing in at least one-fifth of the voting precincts of the county. municipality. or district If it be state or district office and the district comprises more than one county the petition must include electors residing in each of at least one-eighth of the precincts in at least two counties in the district. It it be an office to be voted for in the state at large the petition must include electors residing in each of at least one-tenth of the precincts in each of at least seven counties of the state. If it be an office to be voted for in a congressional district the pc titiOn must include electors residing in at least One-tenth of the precincts in each of at least one-fourth of the counties in the district. The num- Der of signers required is at least ? per cent. Cf the party vote in the electoral district. but not more than 1000 signers are required for a state or congressional office nor more than 800 in any other case. Petitions must be filed for a state or district office at least twenty days before the primary election, and for county or municipal offices fifteen days before the election. Names of the candi- dates are arranged on the ballots in alphabetical order. The ballot for the Republican party is printed on white paper: that fer the Democratic party on blue paper; and that for any other party on yellow paper The Australian ballot form is used in the primaries. No elector is qualified to vote at a party primary election unless he has registered and desig- mated, under oath, his party affilia- tion, except that he may register at the polls on election day by filing an affidavit, verified by six free holders of his precinct certifying to his legal qualifications, in which af- fidavit he must also designate his party affiliation.
 Party Integrity Protected.
 No voter is required to designate his party utilization in order to vote at the general election, but registra- tion of party aftiliation Is a prere- quisite to participation in party primary. This requirement. prevents the participation of members of one party in the primaries of another party. The right of each party to choose it own candidates is thus pro- tected, and an evil all too common where restrictive party primary laws are not in. force Is avoided
 Our direct primary law further provides that the candidate in his petition shall, among other things, agree to accept the nomination and will mt withdraW." and if elected