The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-11-25

be the best system of government in
the world" was the content of an ad!
dress delivered by United States Sen
ator Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of Oregon,
before the American Academy of Po-
litical and Social Science, at it's open
ing session here last night. The SEN
ator declared the initiative and the
referendum "the keystone of the arch
of popular government" and set forth
in detail the reasons for his belief,
analyzing as well the other fatures of
the Oregon system.
In his address Senator Bourne argu-
ed that the initiative educates and de-
velops the people by compelling them
to study public questions and placing
upon them responsibility for all laws.
1t gives every man an opportunity to
submit his ideas to the people, provid-
ed eight per cent of them believe his
ideas worthy of submission to popular
vote; thus, the speaker argued, there
is tendency to lift all the people to
the plane of the most advanced.
Laws proposed under the initia-
tive" said Senator Bourne, "are not
subject to amendment and, therefore,
cannot be made the means Of enacting
'jokers' as has often been done in the
case of measures enacted by the leg
islature. Legislative blackmail and
grants of special privilege are made
impossible by the referendum"
The people of Oregon are satisfied
with their system of direct legisla-
ton, and it has not been unreasonable
expensive"
Oregon has elected three United
States senators by popular vote. Ex-
crat was elected senator in Oregon,
which is republican state, Senator
Bourne said that 81 out of 80 members
of the Oregon legislature had sub
scribed to what is known as the
Statement No. 1" pledge, in which
a member of the legislature pledges
himself to the people to always vote
for that candidate for United States
senator who has received the largest
number of votes for that office at the
general election. In pursuance Of such
pledge the legislature elected a demo
crat who had received the largest num-
Der of popular votes.
Senator Bourne advocated extend
ing the direct primary to the election
of candidates for president and vice
president and of delegates to national
conventions, thus relieving presidents
of any obligation to men who make
ad manipulate conventions.
"A corrupt practice act is a eces-
sary feature of popular government
in order to regulate campaign expendi-
lures and prevent abuse of the initia-
tive and referendum and the direct
primary An import feature of the
Oregon system is the publicity pamph-
let published by the secretary of state
and mailed to the voters at least eight
days before each election. Each can
didate in the primary campaign may
have published in this pamphlet a
statement in support of his candidacy.
Each candidate must pay for at least
one page in the pamphlet, the amount
varying from $1OO for the highest Of
fee to SO for minor offices. Each can
Ididate may secure not more than three
additional pages at 800 per page In
the general campaign each party may
use not to exceed "a pages in the pub
licity pamphlet at $50 per page, max
ing approximately $100 for each can
didate. A candidate shall not expend
in his primary campaign more than
Is per cent, nor in his general cam
paign more than 10 per cent of one
years salary in excess of what he
Ipays for space in the publicity pamph-
let. A candidate for governor in Ore
gon can reach all registered voters in
two campaigns at total cost of $500.
Concluding his speech, Senator
bourne said:
Oregon has evolved the best sys-
tenn of popular government in the
world.
"The Australian ballot assures the
honesty of elections.
"The registration law guards the
integrity of the privilege of American
citizenship - participation in govern
ment.
"The direct primary absolutely in
sures popular selection of all candi