Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-08
Initiative and Referendum in Oregon


Thirty two questions involving
matters of public policy were sub
mittaI 10 a referendum voted in Ore
gon at the recent election. 1t was
objected in advance of their submits
sion, by the foes of popular govern
ment, that it was folly TO expect the
voters to pass intelligently on ali the
questions submitted, but the result
justifies the faith of those who be-
lieve that the people are fully as
we'll qualified to pass on matters at
/ fecting their own affairs as their del
! egated representatives would be, and
much better.
To assist the voter to judgement
of the questions there was furnished
him 4 pamphlet containing each Of
the 3 > propositions, and an argument
by the ablest opponent of each prop
os;tion. The proposal before him.
and arguments for and against it
there for his perusal, the voter en-
abled to see it in all its phases and
decide whether he was for or against
its incorporation into law.
The Portland Labor Press sup
piled this summary of the referen-
dunn vote on measures of general in
terest:
Taxpaying suffrage for women.
Yes. $4,000; No, $3.50; defeated
by 22.259.
4 constitutional convention. Yes,
25.427; No, 59,753; defeated by
34,326.
Two tax amendments proposed by
the Grange and submitted to refer
endum by the legislature. Cd Yes.
37.847; No,4O,246; defeated by p
399. CD Yes. 32,118; No, 4O,995;
defeated by S.S77.
Construction of railroads by the
state. counties, and railroad districts.
Yes, 34,O13; No, 46,121; defeated by
12,1OS.
County option in taxation. Yes.
1899; No, 1884. Adopted by
1855.
Control of liquor traffic by cities
and towns. Yes, 52,461; No, A.
ga; adopted by 4,547
Employers liability in hazardous
occupations. Yes. 55,641; No, 3d.
529; adopted by 22.112.
Two statewide prohibition amend
ments. % Yes, 43.433;. No, 61.-
279: defeated by 1886. GU Yes,
42,649; No, 60, 564; defeated by 90
915.
Commission to inquire into en-
ployers' liability. Yes. 32,232; No,
SLIPS; defeated by 19,493.
Extension of direct primary law
to presidential nominations and del
egates to national conventions, and
payment of travelling expenses of
delegates. Yes. 43,253; No, Asia;
adopted by 1879.
An official gazette. Yes, 1883;
No, 52,317; defeated by 24,361
Increasing initiative, referendum
and recall powers, restricting legis-
lative use of emergency proviso. pro-
viding for proportional representa-
ton and increasing pay of legisla-
tors, requiring presence of senate
and speaker of house to be outside
of membership, limiting corporate
franchises to 90 years, imposing $40
fine for non-attendance of members
at legislative sessions revising oath
of office TO prohibit logrolling. Yes,
37,O31; No, 44,958; defeated by
1927.
Providing for verdicts in civil
cases by three-fourths of jury, pro-
hibiting retrial where evidence sup
ports verdict, and otherwise reform
ing judicial proceedings. Yes, A.
545; No, 39,307; adopted by 5,23S.
The people rule in Oregon. Leg
islation desired by them IS automat-
ically enacted on their initiative. Leg
islation displeasing to them is repeal
ed on their demand. The result is
that Oregon is the best governed,
because the most popularity governed,
of all the states of the Union.