Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-06-10
OREGON'S GREAT NEED
g. N. McARTHUR'S ADDRESS ON
STATE CONSTITUTION.
Importance of Constitutional Conven-
tion Is Clearly Pointed Out
- by Speaker.


adopted fifty-three years ago and, as
have stated, its few unamended pre-
visions are either disregarded or hav
become dead letters. The question
now before us are: Shall we continue
at a great expense, to attempt, in tn
present spasmodic, erratic, and IN
systematic manner, to revise a fault
constitution? Shall we continue, a
each succeeding election, to vote upol
amendments proposed by any name
or group of men? Shall we continu
to adopt proposed amendments with
out amendment or debate? Shall W,
continue to allow our Constitution
making to be done by self-appointet
Lawmakers who are responsible t,
nobody? Would it not be better t,
submit the whole question to a bod,
of sixty men, selected according tt
law, and then at the polls pass upor
the results of their deliberation
Would it not be better to follow some
well-defned plan, rather than continue
to patch our Constitution piece meal
and at random, where those who pre-
pare the amendments are generally
unknown and responsible to no con
'stituency?
1t is first for the people to say
whether or not we are to have Con-
stitutional Convention; it is then ND
to the people to select the delegates I;
and finally, the people must pass upon
the proposed Constitution at the polls.
1t would be a reflection upon the in
telligence of the people to say that
they are not competent to pass upon
all of these propositions in an intelli-
gent manner. In view of the exper-
ience of this and other states, it is
reasonable to assume that the sixty
delegates chosen under the direct pri-
mary law, would be representative of
the best citizenship of the state. They
would average better than the same
of legislators for the reason
that no senatorial fight would becloud
the issue before the voters and men
would, in nearly every instance, be
chosen upon merit. A glance at the
membership roll of Oregon's first and
only Constitutional Convention shows
such names as Matthew p. Deadly,
Stephen f. Chadwick, p. p. Prim,
Delazon Smith, George H. Williams,
L. F. Grover, Reuben p. Boise, Jesse
Applegate, E. D. Shattuck, John R.
Mcbride and many others who, by
ability and uprightness of character,
made names that will live long in the
history of the state. The recent Con-
stitutional Convention in Michigan
was composed of ninety-six men,
oers, chosen by popular vote. From a
Darty standpoint, the convention was
overwhelmingly Republican, only eight
'ut Of the ninety-siX members being
Democrats Party lines were, how
,ver, not in evidence and the conven-
ion entered upon its work in a spirit
If earnestness and patriotic devotion
o duty. 1t has been said that the
consisted of the best and
post thoroughly representative body
# men ever gathered together in the
State of Michigan. After a session of
iXty days, the convention, by a
unanimous vote, adopted constitu-
ion which was ratified by the voters
t Michigan by an overwhelming ma
Ority In speaking of the new CON
titution, Professor John A. Fairlie,
uniOr Professor of Administrative
Jaw at the University of Michigan,
ays:
"It can hardly be denied that the
ew constitution contains all that was
aluable in the old constitution, that
eliminates a good deal that was no
)nger. .serviceable, and that it includes
lany new provisions that will make
ne fundamental law of the state much
etter adapted to the conditions and
eeds of the present. "
The experience of most other states
nat have recently adopted new con
itutions has been similar to that of
as the people of Oregon
re average American citizens, there
every reason to believe that their !
lperienee with a constitutional con
nntion and its results would be |
Apply one, and that there is no reason |
} believe that the "enemies of the Z
eople" have called the convention in !
Ic hope of getting rid of the Initia- I
We, Referendum, Direct Primary law, {
c. This charge has been freely made v
' opponents of the pending bill, but a
is mere clap-trap and is advanced I
r the sole purpose of arousing pref I
lice against the measure. It can 5
II be denied that some of our pres
i constitutional provisions should be a
feguarded by certain restrictions, c
II any attempt on the part of the .
Convention 10 abolish Z
e laws and constitutional provisions D
ION which the people have already
pressed themselves and which they Il
sh to preserve as n part of our or p
ME law, would meet with defeat at IN
e polls when the proposed Consti- Il
tion comes up for approval or re- az
,tion. A Constitutional Convention II
ould preserve the Initiative and pl
but should increase the v
rcentage of signatures required for be
,ir invoking, and on a statewide oi
assure should require signatures pc
I'M several counties. The Initiative th
'uld not be invoked unless Is per nj
II of the electors demand IL, and the m
ferendum should require 10 per We
It, There should also be clear GA
between statutes and con- Ia
amendments. No eonsti- II
ional amendment should be pro- IN
ed except upon petition of at least pr
per cent of the electors or a two 10
rds vote of the Legislature, and a
per cent vote at one election or a de
iority vote at two successive elee- les
Is should be required for the
'ption of such amendment. The un
sent "Change-the- Constitution tn
le-you-wait method should be ha
;arded but the right 10 change the tio
anic law should not be denied to sui
people. The old system Of amend
It was too dificult: the present Go
tem too lax. What we need is a foI
EN- that can be operated when i'm Eo
iant questions are at issue. but mel
ch viii prove too difficult for prs
ks and agitators. with their little en'