United labor bulletin., 1911-07-06
THE OREGON PLAN
IhSURES PUBLICITY
JONATHAN BOURNE JR. WILL MAKE
RACE FOR SENATOR WITHOUT
TAKING STUMP.

The announcement that Senator JON
athan Bourne, Jr., will stand for renom-
ination and reelection without making
any speeches, distributing any literature
or spending money, has called attention
to the provisions of the Oregon Corrupt
Practices Act which makes it possible
for a candidate in that state to present
his cause before the voters at nominal
expense.
The Oregon law provides that the sec
retary of state shall issue a publicity
pamphlet in which each candidate is per-
mitted to use not TO exceed four pages
in setting forth the principles for which
he stands and the reasons why he should
be nominated. His opponents may oc-
cupy like number OF pages in opposi-
ton to him, but must sign their names
to their arguments and be responsible
under the libel laws of the state. Candi-
dates are required to pay from $40 to
800 a page for this space, the amount
varying with the Importance of the office.
A copy of this pamphlet must be mailed
TO every registered voter not less than
eight days prior to election. In practice,
the secretary of state mails the pamphlet
to the voter as soon as he registers.
This law provides an ample opportu.
nifty for every candidate to present his
claims before the voters of his election
district at a cost which will not bar any
aspirant. 1t practically compels the can
didate to go on record expressly as to
his principles and policies, and prevents
his basing his campaign on local pref
udices. Since the same pamphlet goes
to every section of the state it is impossi.
BILE for candidate to make one appeal
10 the voter in the city and another ap
peal to the voter in the country
Under this law a candidate for the
nomination for senator can state his
cause fully to all the voters of the state
at a cost of s40O. In the general election
campaign, the secretary of state issues
another pamphlet, distributed in like
manner, in which each party may occupy
not TO exceed "A pages, at $50 per page
and each candidate four pages at s10C
per page. Aside from the amount ex
pended for space in the publicity pamph
let, the oregon law limits every candi
date to an expenditure of Is per cent OF
one years salary in the primary cam
paign, and 10 per cent of one years sal
AIRY in the general election campaign
provided that no candidate shall be linn.
tied TO less than 500. Every candidate
must file a sworn itemized statement OF
campaign expenditures within Is days
after election. A similar sworn state
ment must be filed within the same time
by every person who expended or con
tributed $50 or more in support of or in
opposition TO any candidate.
Doubtless there will be violations OF
the Oregon Corrupt Practices Act just as
there always will be violations of every
other criminal statute. but the Oregon
law has set a high standard in political
methods, and by providing means of
publicity has removed the necessity for
large campaign expenditures The pen
atty for violation of the Oregon Corrupt
Practices Act is a fine of not more than
$4,000. or imprisonment for not more
than one year. or both. A candidate vio-
lating the law also forfeits his right TO
the office. This is the main barrier pre-
venting its violation.