The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-04-05

OLD TIME POLITICIANS SAY
ACTION is REVOLUTIONARY

\ state cVAfezLlD4 Is called 20 ECL1-
mate a democratic or republican can
didate for governor. The state chair
man issues the call announcing that
each county Is entitled to 50 many
delegates. the county delegates to be
elected By a county convention, the
county convention TO be composed Of
delegates selected a. the precinct
! The precinct has a machine man or
tEo whO controls the local patronage.
and has some local advantages-he IS
the precinct boss. He calls a precinct
meeting On short notice. obscure ad-
Fertisemeut at an inconvenient place
perhaps : small room over saloon.
packs the meeting with his own
henchmens has a cut and dried pro-
gramme- The meeting Immediately
noEninaEes q candidate, or candidates.
TO the county Convention. their names
selected IN advance. The candidates
are elected Immediately. viva voce.
and the first step has been taken
The county convention. composed
Of such machine delegates. sends ma
chine men chosen in advance. or men
zt all events acceptable to the ma
chine. and the machine delegates 70 |
lnF sEats convention are thus elected 1
When the state convention meets.
composed Of such machine-chOsen del
egates, what can you expectz
Did the people select the precinct
delegatesz No, certainly not.
Did the people select the county
deiegatesz No. certainly not.
Did the people select the state dele
gatesz No. certainly not,
The people did not select the gov
ernor. They only elected the choice
OF a corrupt machine. It is enough
70 make patriot weep who under
stands It thoroughly.
The referendum provides that when
the legislature passes an act not ac-
ceptabIe 70 the people Of the state.
petition within ninety days after the
passage Of The act, signed BIZ 8 per
cent Of the voters. viii operate to sus-
pend the Law until the next regular
election, Al which the people will vote
upon the Law whether It shall become
statute or whether it shall not.
With the initiative in force a cor
rupt practices act and a pure ballot
can be secured.
Oregon has the best corrupt prac-
ices act in the United States. There.
candidate for the senate is limited
% an expense Of 10 per cent, Of one
years salary as the maximum ex-
Dense OF making his campaign, and
20 with other state officials. Every ]
dollar Of expenditure must be set
'orth under oath. to include every per
'on who directly or indirectly expends
my money in the interest of such
No solicitation or bringing Of vot-
,rs to the polls is allowed on election
lay. The election is as peaceful and i
IS honest as a Sunday school.
Under the initiative and referendum
he Oregon legislature tries to meet
he will Of the people. They are not
iubject to temptation by every cor {
'uption or ambition. If they fail to I
'ass the laws the people want the n
'eople to pass their own laws with 2
he initiative l.
II they pass a law the people don't &
want, the people veto it through the Z
Use of the referendum. This system
4 government is called the peoples
ule.
In the last few years it has been
dopted by Oregon. South Dakota and p p
Maine, by Oklahoma. Montana aud b
iissouri and is being actively push a,
d in large number Of other states
nd will be adopted throughout the
lnited States in very few years.
The agency by which it is accom-
lished is called The Questioning of
This is most convenient
= done by the organization of a leg.
stature committee representing large Ca
roups Of voters. For instance, the al
Iational Grange. the American Fed W
ration of Labor. the initiative and OF
sferendum leagues. Pl