Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-09-29
DR.. SMITH TAKES
GOVERNOR TO TASK

Interview with The Courier, takes
hard rap at Governor Oswald West,
as result of the governors position
and statements regarding a proposed
extra session to create good roads leg
islation. DR.. Smith talked as follows:
The only question Governor West
should consider, IL he is honest in his
assertions that he is in favor of good
roads legislation, is whether the in
terests of the state demand that such
legislation should be created. If he
finds that it would be advantageous
to the state to have good roads,, 1t
is his duty to call the legislature to-
gether in extra session. and after
the members assemble he can send
his message advising them of impor-
tant points that he wants them to
consider.
when the governor, however, af-
ter vetoing some 72 bills, among
which were good roads and other
bills of importance to the rest of
the state, finds he has made mis-
take, that his vetoes, which were got
ten up wholly to show the wonderful
wisdom and craftsmanship of him.
self, and to belittle the work of the
legislature, have not met with the
popular approval and laudation he
had hoped for, and now when there
comes a demand for relief from con-
ditions which his vetoes have caused,
instead of calling the legislature to-
gether in a manly way, he seeks to
impose conditions which he knows
no member, that possesses intelli-
gence or manhood, could accept, and
then, when he claims he is in favor
of good road laws, 1t stamps him a
cheap demagogue.
Il will meet Governor West half
way. will serve the state OF Ore
gon for the rest of my term as a
member of the house of representa-
tives without pay If he will agree to
serve the balance of his term as gov
ernor without compensation. One
proposition is as fair as the other,
and if he wants to play politics by ac-
cepting my offer, he will find the
people will all applaud him. Each
member of the legislature swore to
perform the duties of his office to
the best of his ability, and If they are
called together in extra session 1t is
their duty to consider those 72 We
toes. This Governor West knows or
ought to know, and that is the rea-
son he Is afraid to call an extra ses-
sion without pledge from members
to violate their oath of office. And,
while pretending to be favorable to
an extra session, he makes 1t i'm
possible to have one, and then ex-
poets to lay the blame on the mem
bers.
"If Governor West wants an eX-
ira session, he knows how he can
get It honorably. If he doesn't want
An extra session, 1t is up to him;
but he doesn't need to try to be on
both sides Of the road question and
expect to hurnbug the people.
"We are constantly informed by
The Portland Journal of great saw
ing to the state of 100000 by those
vetoes. Let us look at this saving.
The sum of $340, 900, or more than
one-half, was for state aid to roads
which II properly expended, would
have been returned to the people IN
very few years. The sum OF $780,
600 TO build new and suitable pa
yilion at the state fair grounds, Q
building in keeping with the dignity
of the state and very mucn heeueu
the present building being totally un'
fit for the PURPOSE. Another saving
was in the naval militia bill, whicr
he refused to file without an illega
pledge that they would only use par
of it. And, aftervard. when the
naval militia had burned some pow
der and kow-towed q him, he grac
iously consented to give them th'
rest OF the states money This is
sample Of his vetoes and what he ha
saved the state. His threat to vet'
any raise Of salary during the IN
cumbent's term only applied to TN
counties that did not give West ma
jority Of votes. Witness the raiS
in salary Of the county school super
intendent Of Jackson county