Arizona republican., 1910-09-06

dDlc lo So IOll LII dIlu uO bdltle NllH the common enemy. To the man who says, oh, l don't care anything for party have nothing to say, for un- less he is party man of course he doesn't care and should not, to be consistent, take any part in a primary election. There has never been a primary law enacted in any state which did not have for it's declared purpose the government of a political party, and the man who has no re- gard for any party has no business to take part in the selection of its candidates. The man who shouts that he doesn't care for party is no friend of any law which is enacted for the guidance of party. Such a man is nondescript and should keep still on all occasionS-though you must have noticed that he is about the noisiest proclaimer in his neighborhood and the most -vOciferous individual in the region round about that he is the special champion of the direct primary law. Look out for him."
 THE OREGON SENATORS. Here the governor took occasion to say a word about the present senators from Oregon who had come in under the Oregon Plan. Senator Bourne, whose speech on the system has been widely printed by the democratic pa pers, he said had never made a speech in Oregon in his life. Nobody had ever seen him on the platform. His campaign had been conducted from his offices by means of widely circu- lated literature. At Washington he had been the handy man of Senator Aldrich He had voted for every sec ton of the Aldrich bill, saying that he did not understand them while Senator Aldrich did
 Senator Chamberlain, Governor Geer said. had gone before the people as non partisan candidate. He had never intimated that he was a demo- cratic candidate, and with five repub- lican candidates before the primaries he received a plurality of votes. re- sulting in his election by the legis- lature. But after the primaries he threw off the non partisan cloak and was a democrat. as he had been in Mississippi and as he had always been until he entered upon his non partisan campaign.
 
 reasons, had supported every schedule of the tariff bill providing higher rates for the products of Oregon But for political reasons, when he was cer- tain that the bill would pass. he voted against it.
 Now, a word about objections to an initiative law" the governor continued. The first objection is that it is in direct opposition and is violative of the principle of represent tative government-and our entire system of government state and na- tiOnal has for its groundwork the recognition and acceptance of the the ory and practice of representative government. This system is based upon the admission that the masses of the people are not capable of taking charge of their government This is manifestly true because they have not the time to prepare for it. It is no reproach whatever to them to say that they are not only disqualified, but they are unqualified to take charge of the great questions which must be met and settled. This might be done as to small matters where all the peo- pie could get together and have it out in town meeting-in a siXbit bor- ough, but when the people of an entire state undertake to originate and pass laws, the limit is reached in the di- rection of complications and ineffic- iency."
 A WILD FAlLAcY.
 It is impossible, said the speaker. for the people to legislate. That inn possibility was recognized by the founders of the republic. If such system of legislation had been possi- ble, Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton. Madison would have favored it. But there is no means by which the peo- pie can initiate legislation. It may be done by one man or by small group of men.
 The governor said that. while on his way to Phoenix, he had read report of a democratic meeting or a nOn- par tisan meeting where one brilliant in dividual said he was for the initiative and referendum because 1t was that system of legislation which prevailed in the New England town meeting. Another equally brilliant speaker was for it because it had been in use on the Mayflower That's right" said Governor Geer, "let it stay in the town meeting; that's the place for it; it is a good system when the people can get together and confer concern ing the needed legislation. but state legislation cannot be enacted Tn this way by the people. It has never been done and never will be done.
 "This is the situation where you have an initiative provision in your cotnsitution. It is the situation m Oregon at this time One man, an old man, Jeff Jones. can sit down Tn his retreat at the head of the Hollow and propose one of the most absurd and impracticable laws imaglnao!e, write it out in the crudest form m which it were possible to do it. yhen he will hire a eew men to circulate netition among the voters for thelr signatures, requesting the secretary of state to put his bill on the baiiot. If he can get eight per cent or the voters to sign it it goes. Noth:nS more is required. And it is nc tr"'pie to get eight voters out Of every nun dred to sign his petition. Eight voters ont of one hundred can be found wfo wiil sign a petition for anything uncer the sun.
 And another thing this system mas
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