The Lamar register., 1910-07-20

at Lake SeQualltocue7Ws WucAe hc
eviewed "old times" OF the ancient
and primitive folkmoot. toward
which direct legislation Is revert
ing. The Governor said:
There are those now who ad-
yocate a return to the system that
a race outgrew as 1t emerged from
barbarism-that Is. q return to
the folkmoot in its pristine simple
ity. They would have US who are
in the midst of a highlyorganized
civilization attempt to govern our
selves with system that met the
needs of a simple. pastoral and bar
barrie age. They profess to believe.
and doubtless many of them do be-
lieye, that we who often refuse or
fail to drop absorbing vacations and
private interests long enough to
all a halt to those few representa-
lives who have gone wrong. could
and would give the practical and
painstaking consideration necessary
to secure practical and efficient gov
eminent by direct legislation.
ITO me the proposition would
appear ridiculous were 1t not so
dangerous in it's portent, The rem
.dy for. whatever evils may have
,rept into this form OF government
ould be applied without changing
the form or wrecking the fabric Gre
ated by the patriots of the Revolu-
ton and handed down to us by
our forefathens.
This means that Governor Hay
opposes the Oregon system" In his
state. He is not alone in his OPP
position. The example of Oregon
supplanting parliamentary lawmak-
ng with direct legislation is not
pleasing one. II was not intended
by the people of Oregon that the
direct method of making laws
should take precedence over the
other and burden voters with the
absurd task that confront elect
| ,rs of this state in the next cleo
ION. Had 1t been foreseen sever
hi years ago. when the initiative
| nd referendum was adopted. that
| he new system would lead to pres
| mt excuses. its adoption would
| ave been resisted. Just now its
| idoption Is resisted In the state OF
Washington.
| Under the initiative and refer
| ,ndum next November voters of
Oregon will attempt lawmaking
| functions of the legislature by 'di-
| .,ect'" voting on thirty-two meas
lres. Seven OF these measures
ONE from the legislature for ref
srendum. Twenty-Five others come
N nearly every case, from innova-
| tors. agitators or self-seeking
groups of citizens. None of the
twenty-five initiative bills has been
framed by a representative body OF
citizens in regard to substantial
Justice for interests involved or TO
adjustment of conflicting needs of
the body polite.
I or the seven referendum bills.
four are constitutional amendments
| and three are statutory enactments.
OF the twenty-five initiative bills.
seven are constitutional amend
nents and eighteen are statutory
| enactments. They are complicate
and intricate. There is no differ
ence In the method OF voting as to
| constitutional and statutory enact
ments. These many bills need care
full deliberation. such as members
Of a Legislature. or leaders of such
a body. are called upon to give. A
number of them conflict in their
provisions and purposes. In most
of them special kDdwladge of de-
tails and particulars Is needed for
Intelligent voting. and this know
Ledge is such as the great mass OF
the voting citizens will not acquire.
These initiative and referendum
excuses have surprised Oregon's
voting population. Defenders OF
the system" vaiDly endeavored to
curtail them this year by reducing
/ the .numDeT Oh ihltiati'V otiS. A<>'~-A'
group of innovators insisted on ex-
ercising its full privilege under the
constitution. The result Is an I'M
possible task for voters. II is a
task that only. delegated members
of the body polite. in parliamentary
assem- bly,. have time and opportun-
lily to dispose of. The average vot-
er is not as we'll qualified a. the
Leverage legislator to act on mat
tiers of legislation. and 1t is absurd
to deny lhis obvious truth.
Governor Hay has stated the
matter In able and forceful man.
Iner. Subversion OF delegated rep
resentative legislation is return to
political barbarism. Parlimentar!
government is the best bulwark OF
democr and OF national unity
1.-THE lesson is as old as history and
1.-THE great historians all note 1t
IOregon's Statesmen" however
headed by U'Ren. have ideas which