The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-18

Philadelphia, Nov. 1.-THE session to-
night OF the American Academy OF Po-
iiiical and Social Science. held in With
erspoon Hall, attracted a representative
audience. Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.'
United States Senator from Oregon, was
the speaker OF the evening. and special
Invitations were extended by the aead-
envy 20 prominent people TO hear his ad-
dress on The meaning Of popular gov
eminent"
Senator Bourne's address was an expo
sitiOn OF the much-discussed oregon sys'
tenn, which he declared 10 be the best
system of government In the world.
The chief features OF that system are
the Australian ballot, strict registration
law, the initiative and referendum, the
direct primary. including popular selec-
tion. of United States Senators, COM
prehensive corrupt-pFactices act, and the
recall. all OF which. Senator Bourne de-
clared, constitute absolute government by
the people.
Senator Bourne argued that the In
ltiative educates and develops the peo-
pie by compelling them to study public
Questions and placing upon them respon-
sibility for all laws. II gives every man
an opportunity 10 submit his Ideas TO the
people. provided per cent OF them be-
lieye mis- ideas worthy OF submission 10
popular vote. Thus. there Is tendency
TO lift all the people 10 the plane OF the
most advanced
Jokers and BiackmaiI Impossible.
Laws proposed under the initiative,
he said, are not subject 10 amendment,
and, therefore cannot be made the means
Of enacting jokers. as has often been
done in the case Of measures enacted by
legislature. Legislative blackmail and
grants OF special privilege are made i'm
possible by the referendum.
THE people OF Oregon are satisfied
With their system OF direct legislation,
and Il has not been unreasonably expen-
siye
Before a voter can participate IN
direct primary in Oregon he must regis
ter under oath his party utilization, thus
protecting tbs primaries of one party
from interference by members Of another
party
oregon has selected three United States
Senator's by popular vote. Explaining
the manner IN which a Democrat was
elected Senator by Oregon, which Is a
Republican State. Senator Bourne said
that 81 out OF 80 members OF the Oregon
Legislature had subscribed TO what Is
known as the Statement No. l. pledge
in, which a member Of the legislature
pledges himself 10 the people always to
vote for shat candidate for United States
Senator who has received the largest
number OF votes f6r that Office at the
general election. In pursuance OF such
pledge. the legislature elected a Demo-
crat who had received the largest num-
Der Of popular votes.
Choosing Presidential Candidates.
Senator Bourne advocated extending
the direct primary 10 the selection Of
candidates for President and Vice Presi-
dent and Of delegates to national conven-
tions. thus relieving Presidents OF any
obligation to men who make and manifa~
late conventions.
"a corrupt-practices act" he said, Is
a necessary feature Of popular govern
meut. in order 10 regulate campaign eX-
penditures and prevent abuse OF the lniti-
alive and referendum and the direct prI-
mary An important feature Of the Ore
gon system is the publicity pamphlet
published by the secretary OF state and
matted to the voters az least eight days
before each election Each candidate in
the primary campaign may have pub
/ lished In this pamphlet q statement in
support Of his candidacy. Each candi-
date must pay for at least one page In the
pamphlet. the amount varying from 500
| for the highest office TO SO for minor Of
/ fees. Each candidate may secure not
] -
J per page In the general campaign each
party may use not to exceed twenty-four
| pages In the publicity pamphlet at $50
per page, making approximately si00 for
each candidate,
"A candidate shall not expend in his
primary campaign more than Is per cent
nor In his general campaign more than
/ 10 per cent OF one years salary in excess
OF what he pays for space in the publicity
pamphlet.
"A candidate for governor dn oregon
| lean reach all registered VOTES In two
campaigns al a total cost Of 500"
Concluding his speech. Senator Bourne
said:
Advantages of the System.
Oregon has evolved the best system Of
popular government in the world.
''The Australian ballot assures the hon
esty OF elections.
The registration law guards the In
! tegrity OF the privilege Of American citi-
zenship-participation in government.
The direct primary absolutely insures
popular selection Of all candidates. and
establishes the responsibility OF the pub
! lie servant 20 the electorate. and not 20
any political boss OF special interest
The Initiative and referendum Is the
keystone OF the arch OF popular govern
ment. for by means Of this the people
may accomplish such other reforms as
they desire.
The corrupt-practices act is necessary
as a complement to the initiative and
referendum aud the direct primary. for
without the corrupt practices sct these
othsr features of popular government
could be abused. Under the operation OF
| this law popular verdicts will be based
/ upon ideas, not money argument. not
abuse: principles. not boss or machine
dictation
THE recall is rather an admonitory or
precautionary measure. the existence OF
which will generally prevent necessity for
its use.
Electors who believe in the validity
and Importance OF their sovereign citi-
zenship. In their own intelligence, and in
their own capacity to think and act for
themselves politically should study these
oregon laws, and should work for the
adoption OF similar laws In their own
States. They should question all candi.
dates for elective Offices as to their atti-
tude upon these measures, and support
only such candidates as pledge them
selves to work diligently for the adoption
of similar laws. and defeat candidates
declining to make such public deciara-