Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-13
Ir,s THE PEoPLE,s BUsINEss
Ccottage Grove sentinell

IT'S THE PEOPLES BUSINESS.
Cottage Grove sentinel)
Before The Oregonian continues
further its rambling remarks con-
cerning county division it might be
we'll for that publication to inform
itself regarding the several points it
aims to discuss, prominently among
which may be mentioned the one con-
cerning overlapping boundaries. In
recent editorial that self-appointed
dictator Of state affairs, political and
otherwise, The oregonian asks:
Question now vexing direct legisla-
tion statesmanship is, what will hap
pen from enactment of all these
counties with conflicting bound
aries" referring to Nesmith and vii
liams, and Hudson and Orchard. The
law plainly provides that the measure
receiving the greatest number Of
votes cast for such measures shall
prevail, and hence the writer cannot
conceive why there should be any
vexing question In this respect. The
same publication would have us be-
lieve that Umpaua county overlaps
the proposed Nesmith county, where
as such is not the case. Umpqua
county as proposed joins Nesmith on
the west, its east line being that of
proposed Nesmith, and takes the
coast sections of Lane and Douglas
counties, when 1t has long been con-
ceded by both Lane and Douglas
counties forms logical county. Will
liams county overlaps Nesmith to
some extent, and is alleged to be a
scheme promoted solely for the pur-
pose Of defeating Nesmith, the pop
ularity of which is state wide.
Should Nesmith county, as it un-
questionably will, receive more votes
at the polls next November than the
proposed Williams county, the latter
will be left with scarcely sufficient
territory to maintain government
of its own, fact which is clearly
shown by glance at its map.
The Oregonian also expresses the
opinion that there is need Of a gem
eral law confining initiative elections
for division and partition of counties
to the local territory affected; that
electors of the state do not possess
the knowledge required for intelli-
gent voting on these county ques-
tions. 1t is as much the duty of
every elector to inform himself con-
cerning these questions, which are
of vital Importance in the upbuilding
of Oregon, as it is to inform himself
on the qualifications of the candi-
dates for the high offices within his
gift. The law provides that every
voter shall receive arguments for and
against these county measures, to be
sent out by the state, and hence we
say, If the electors of Oregon cannot
vote intelligently on county divisions
they certainly cannot on candidates
Win WnOH LhCJ hdFC iO dSludlA'-
ance, or probably knowledge, except
through campaign literature. The
constitution of the state especially
provides for the creation of new
counties by the direct vote of the
people and not otherwise. There
are but two ways of creating coun-
ties, /. e., by the legislature or by a
vote of the people, and If left to the
former, which is generally dominated
by selfish policies of county seat poll
ticians, history would undoubtedly
repeat itself, and oregon would get
a new county about every 20 years.
The creation of new counties builds
up new cities, new Industries, new
centers of wealth. develop and en-
hances the value of reality within
that territory, increases population,
and hence must prove an important
factor in the making of a Greater
Oregon.