The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-28
BOURNE ASSERTS.
GRAVE CHARGES
Oregon Senator Accuses Former
Government Official of Butt
ing Into Primaries.
USES PLAIN LANGUAGE,
BUT 0MITS THE NAME
Declares That Attempts Were
Made to Bribe Legislators
to Ignore Pledges.

PEORIA, Ill, June 2T.-With a general
dcnunciation OF corrupt methods, alleged
TO have been practiced In the legislature
of Illinois in recent years between three
and four hundred citizens :-om all parts
of the slate assembled here today and
formed a temporary organization to re-
pair "thc breakdown OF representative
government.
Senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon ad
dressed an audience of several hundre i
people at the Majestic theater tonight.
eXpla lining the Oregon mcthcd OF clecting
United States senators.
The conference OF Illinois citizens fol-
lows recent revelations OF corporation cor
ruption in The legislature OF Illinois Reg
niatlon OF express rates. the commission
legislation. civil service and election laws
were discussed by Dan T.. Sheen and
George r.. Greene, the latter secretary of
he Illinois Retail Merchants association.
Green declared that "A dozen men con-
trollcd the Illinois legislature.
To remedy existing coalitions, Mr..
Greene suggested one session OF the legs-
lature for The Introduction OF bills only
followed by a second session tp pass such
bills as may have been fovorably re-
ported by committees
When the conference begins at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning several bun
today arc expected.
Winston Churchill of New Hampshire.
advocate OF the Short ballot" will ad-
dress the delegates tomorroW night.
During the session of the legislature.
said Mr., Bourne. "a former government
official. an assistant 10 the chairman OF
the Republican national committee. ap-
peared In Oregon. and l am informed,
promised federal appointments to legis-
lative members Ii they would disregard
their statement number one pledges TO
the electorate.
The effort was made by the enemies
OF the law TO create the impression that
by this persons relation with the chair
man OF the Republican national commit
tee during the national campaign he
would be able TO deliver these promised
appointments in case the number one sub
scribers sold their honor and betrayed
| their trust"
The number one pledge 10 which a
| legislator must subscribe provides that he
| shall always vote for that candidate for
| United states senator who has received
| the largest number Of votes for that OF
flee at the general election.
Speaking directly TO the people OF llli-
nois. Senator Bourne said:
Note of Warning.
"Whether you want popular election OF
| United States senators In Illinois Is for
you voters to determine. but L warn you
| any halfway or compromise system
| which places party above the entire peo-
| pie will result In dissatisfaction and
| probably corruption. II you wish 10 de-
\ stroy the power OF the political machine
abolish the convention system entirely
| If you wish to establish a popular selec-
| ton OF United States senators. inaugurate
a system which takes away from the
| legislature the right TO do more than
ratify the act of the people at the gen.
| cral election
Senator Bourne's address in the begin
ming was an exposition OF the much dis.
| cussed Oregon system, which he declared
| to be the best system OF popular gov
| ernment in the world, The chief lea-
lures OF that system are the Australian
| ballot strict registration law. the inltia-
tive and referendum. the direct prInnry
| including popular selection of United
| States senators, comprehensive corrupt
| practices act and the recall. all OF |hlcr
senator Bourne declared constituted aD-
soute government by the people
People Mainly Honest.
THE people are not only intelligent
hut fair and honest. said Senator Bourne
when the initiative and referendum
were under discussion II was 1reely pre-
that the power would be abused ana ina
Capitalists would not invest their money
in IL state where property wonic pc SUD
ject 10 attacks OF popular passion aH'
| temporary whims. Experience mas OK
ploded this argument. -.
| The speaker then dwclt al length OF
| the serious features OF the oregon sSS
| TEN and continued: .
PLAINLY stated, the aim ana Purpoao So v
| thn Oregon law is to destroy tho IRE.
sponsible political machine and TO put al
| elective offices In the state In dlrec
touch with the people as the real sourc'
of authority, in short. to give dtrect am
full force to the ballot Of every indlvidua
eiector in oregon and TO eliminate dom
inance OF corporate and corrupt iniluehSe
in the administration OF public affairs,