East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-10-08
Senator Bourne Hurrying East
to Lecture on Popular Gov
ernment.
URGES SUPPORT FOR
HIS INITIATIVE BILL
Jonathan Bourne Gives Interview In
Which he Upholds Progressive
Laws OF This State-Will Help
Other States Fight Machine Poll
tics-Urgcs Support for Presidenti-
al Preference Bill Brought up
Under Initiative.

United States Senator Jonathan
ton yesterday on his way to Chicago.
where, on Octiber II, he will deliver
an address before the Union League
club on the subject of the Oregon
plan of popular government, particu-
larly explaining and discussing the
initiative and referendum and the
corrupt practices act. Senator Bourne
has also accepted invitations to de-
liver addresses in New York City be-
fore the Lincoln Roosevelt league.
"In every state in the union move
ment Is on for the establishment of
popular government, and the Oregon
plan is everywhere set up as model"
said Senator Bourne, speaking to a
representative of the East Oregonian.
Progressive citizens all over the
United States are discussing and ad-
vocating the oregon system, and as a
consequence this state is receiving
more favorable attention than any
otoher state in the union. The extent
of public interest in the subject Is
indicated by the fact that since the
delivery of my address in the Senate
last May explaining the oregon sys-
TEN, ! have received requests for a
total of more than 100000 copies Of
that address.
But strong though the movement
II. yet It meets determined opposition
from beneficiaries OF special privilege.
In Arizona, for instance, when the
campaign was on for the election Of
deleg ates to the constitutional con-
vention. the enemies of popular gov
ernment secured from a leader in the
Oregon assembly a letter picturing
the evils OF the Oregon system and ad-
vising Arizona to avoid the initiative
as you would the plague Several
prominent men of Oregon have gone
out of their way to misrepresent the
Oregon system and to create the i'm
preston that as a result of our laws
chaos and dissatisfaction reigns. I
propose, so far as am able, to give
n correct account of the oregon sys-
tenn and to aid in the adoption Of
similar laws in other states.
Many friends have urged me to
remain here during the campaign
and aid further in the defence of our
popular government laws against the
attacks of those who have sought to
return to machine methods. In my
opinion, the issue is clearly under
stood. Notwithstanding the effort of
some newspapers and candidates to
deceive the people, and ] have con-
fidence that the voters will at the
general election administer another
rebuke to assemblyism. Believing
after careful consideration that can
be of most service to the cause of
progressive government by helping
the contest in other states where ma
chimes are still dominant. have de-
cided to accept some Of the many in
vitations / have received to explain
the Oregon system.
'I wish to urge upon the attention
of the voters of Oregon the import
ance of the adoption of my bill, pro-
posed under the initiative, providing
for an expression of popular choice
for party candidate for president and
vice president. This bill. Number
356 on the ballot, found on page 1852
to 1876 OF the publicity pamphlet sent
out by the Secretary of state. 1t pro-
vides that the voters in their party
primaries may express their prefer
ence for candidates for president and
vice president. elect their delegates to
national conventions and select their
party candidates for presidential ell
ectors.
"Direct selection of party candidates
for president and vice president Is
right in principle. Under present