Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-13
WILL PUZZLE VOTERS
NOT CLEAR IN PRO-
POSED AMENDMENTS
Observer Readers Are Urged to Scan
Closely Following Outline of
Measures.

Each of some 10000 voters in Ore
gon will have in his possession within
the next few days the 200-pag,
pamphlet" containing the initiativ,
and referendum measures that will b,
voted on in November, but it is prob
able that very few of the electors who
desire to give conscientious considera-
ton to the measures before them viii
be able to do so simply by perusal OF
even close study of the pamphlet, says
the Sunday Oregonian.
There are 80 measures published in
the pamphlet. On some measures, ar
guments both for and against are pub
lished, on some only one side present
ed, and on still others no argument
whatever 1t is likely that not more
than few of the 10000 voters in
the state will find themselves able to
vote intelligently on more than one
fourth of the measures without refer
documents or maps secured at their
own expense.
There are eight measures on which
the average voter should be able to
make up his mind by reading the
pamphlet listening to the arguments
that are bound to take place and by
reading documents on both sides of the
issues as published in the newspapers
Liquor Issue Plain.
For example, the three measures
pertaining to the sale of Intoxicating
liquors are such that their import can
be understood by anyone. One is
proposed amendment to the constitu-
tion declaring for statewide prohibi-
tion, and another is a coordinate pro-
hibition law designed to. enact the de-
tails in the prohibition of the sale of
liquor as a beverage, while the third
is the opposing constitutional amend
ment designed to give cities and towns
exclusive power to regulate or prohib-
1t the sale of intoxicants.
No difficulty will be encountered by
the electors in voting on the womans
suffrage amendment Most persons, al
so, will likely be able to find it possi-
Die to make up their minds from the
in the official pamphlet
the bill providing for direct
nomination of presidential electors
would not be a useless appendage to |
he direct primary law. In view of the |
of active support by the
Portland Chamber of Commerce of |
he proposed constitutional amend |
nent making state aid railroads poss-
BILE, and also in consequence of the |
waking that has finally come to the
ailroad systems concerning central
oregon, the average voter WILL in most
instances determine readily how to
-ote on this measure.
No Middle on Good Roads.
The necessity for better highways
5 thoroughly recognized throughout
he state, and the amendment propos-
ng to remove the constitutional re-
friction on the mourning of indebted
ess by counties beyond $4,000 to
uild permanent roads, will readily be
nderstood.
To go down the list of other meas
res and vote intelligently, the elect
rs will require a large fund of infor-
lation not found between the covers
the official pamphlet, and, particu-
lrly, the obstacle to intelligent action
ill be found almost insurmountable
n the measures that pertain to local !
r neighborhood issues. I
The bill prohibiting the taking of
sh from Rogue River by any means
kept with hook and line, is a strik- [
lg example of the latter class. The
amphlet contains one argument for
lie bill and two separate arguments
gainst it. Statements as to facts and
1nditions made in the affirmative ar {
Iment are specifically denied in the
egative argument. In the argument
II the bill it is stated that runs are
lrly diminishing" but in one of the
egative arguments is the declaration, 1
rhe run of salmon is not diminishing
stated" .