United labor bulletin., 1910-10-20
(By Jonathan Bourne, Jr, United States
Senator From oregon.)

Senator From Oregon.)
Unrest exists throughout the civilized
world. People are speculatng as to the
causes Daily uncertainty grows stronger
as to future events. In my opinion, the
basic cause is that people have lost con-
fdence in many of their public servants
and bitterly resent attempted dictator
ship by would-be political bosses and
representatives of special interests who
desire to direct public servants and leg
islation for their own selfish interests
rather than assist in the enactment OF
laws guaranteeing justice to all and
special privileges to none.
Time was when a few self-constituted
leaders in oregon politics arrogated to
themselves the prerogatives of govern
ment and made their assumption effect
i've through Illicit combinations and the
use of money in any and every quarter
where necessary to their purposes OF
control-that is, they commercialized
conventions, legislatures, and the admin
istrative branches of the city, county and
state government 1t was not a condi-
ton peculiar to Oregon. 1t obtained, and
/ believe still obtains in more or less
fragrant degree, in every state In the
union; and it had its boldest, most un-
scrupulous executive genius in Boss
Tweed. who. recognizing the opportunity
of the crook in government by party
through convention nominations, de-
ciared he did not care who elected the
candidates SO long as he had the power
to nominate the ticket.
Revolving against these conditions. the
state which have the honor. in part, to
represent, has evolved the best known
system of popular government Oregon
in 1891 adopted the Australian ballot.
which insures secrecy, prevents intimi-
dation and reduces the opportunity Tor
bribery This. of course. is prerequi-
site to any form Of popular government
Supplementing the Australian ballot
law. Oregon enacted in 1899 a registra-
44sn law applying to general elections.
and enlarged it's scope in 1904 in the law
creating direct primary. This law re-
quires registration prior to voting in
either the general or the primary cleo
tion. and provides that before voting in
a party primary the voter must. under
oath. register his party affiliation. Reg
istration begins five months prior to the
general election. Registration books are
closed ten days prior to the primary cleo
tion and opened again four days after
the primary. and then kept open until
about twenty days before the general
election. A voter may register either by
appearing at the office of the county
clerk or by signing registration blanks
before notary public or justice of the
peace. Upon the registration books are
entered the full name of the voter, his
registration number. date of registration.
his occupation, age. nativity, date and
place of naturalization, IL any, and his
place of residence. In order to guard
against fraud, it is required that the
voter shall give his street and number
and II he is not the head of the house he
occupies, he must show that fact and
give the number of the room he occupies
and upon what floor of the building 1t is
located. He must also sign the register,
IL he can write. If he is unable to write
his name, the reason must be given. II
his inability is due to a physical defect
the nature of the infirmity must be
noted If 1t is due to illiteracy. a physi-
cal description of the man must be noted
in the register.
ANY registered voter may be chal-
lenged and every non-registered voter is
considered challenged. An unregistered
person qualified as an elector may be
permitted to vote upon signing an affi-
davit setting forth all the facts required
in registration, and also securing the
affidavits of six owners of real property
to the effect that they personally know
him and his residence and believe all
his statements to be true.
Thus the greatest boon Of American