Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-11-11

the state for the purpose of formulat-
ing a Republican platform. The direct
primary law contemplates a party |
and a party platform,
but does not provide for any method |
of making party nominations except |
by the direct vote of the registered |
voters. The time has come |
for the Republican party in Oregon
to follow the expressed will of the |
people in the enactment of progressive
policies and assume leadership along |
lines. Being the first
state to express itself in the election !
of national delegates, Republican
voters in Oregon feel that they are
an immense responsible |
ity. To meet the demands of progress |
and yet maintain the tradition of safe,
sane and reasonable principles !
which the affairs of a great |
nation can be guided to permanent
prosperity is not a slight undertake
ing This is the problem which a
organization faces in Or
egon.
From Young Republican.
Ajax, Oregon, Oct. 8, 1911.
League, Salem, Oregon.
Yours received. Enclosed find the
names of two good Republicans of
my precinct. They are good citizens
and workers. They nor myself have
not the experience to be of much use
to the club, but it is needless to say
we re trying to be good citizens. Have
found nothing better than the Repub-
lican party, so are hanging to it as
the best party today, for | am an
American citizen. We will ever en-
deavor to do all we can to further its
cause. When my parents gave me the
name of Lincoln father said: IF he
is half as good a man as he l will
be satisfied l am fearful l shall
have time of getting that halfway
mark. My father and Lincoln were
neighbor boys.
With best wishes to the club and
yourself, and hoping to be of some
service in pushing reform for the
only true thing worth living for, bet
ter mankind by better government,
administered in an honest adminis-
tration, yours very truly,
LINCOLN L. TURNEY.
From an Old Republican,.
Rock Creek, Oregon, Oct. l, 1911.
Lincoln-Taft League, Salem, Oregon.
Your circular letter received and
read and contents noted. But in an
swering | do not desire to be classed
as one who shall direct the policies
of the Republican party of Oregon, a
party whose birth, and its triumphs
and defeats have all occurred during
my brief lifetime, yet it may not be
intruding on your time or patience to
express briefly as possible my ideas
of a Progressive Republican"
In doing this I do not hold that the
party has made no mistakes in it's
history. Yet if | am not mistaken it
has profited by those mistakes and
made progress, and it must continue
to do so or cease to exist. l do not
look back to it's founders as possess
ing all wisdom, for to do so is to be-
come like the Cinnamon, non-progres-
sive. Yet there are certainly several
principles that are truths eternal, and
any government that discards them
must end in anarchy.
A minority in democratic gov
ernment" must never have the power
to prevent a majority from executing
the laws they may enact. This would
lead to anarchy. This was illustrated
in the legislative branch of the gov
ernment in 1897. Because there was
in
to prevent minority from absenting
themselves from the legislative halls, |
anarchy was the result, and probably
in no other civilized land could an
archy in its Legislative body exist so
long as it did then without anarchy
becoming general in the whole body
polite.
We have had again in England,
where a body of laborers through
strike practically placed for a brief
time the business world almost in a
state of anarchy worldwide So 9TH
ers explain it, it matters not even if
this minority have just grievances,
they must not be permitted to hold
up all legislation nor all business.
Do not put my reference in these
illustrations as condemning any eff
fort on the part of q minority to
obtain a redress of grievances, but
one that progressive Republicans
must enact efficient laws to prevent
all such disorders by having a proper
tribunal where labor grievances can
have their just claims allowed. vet
the business world can continue to
do business and legislators can pro-
test against legislation, yet not pre-
vent all legislation.
To conclude, | hold our progressive
legislation in Oregon must be so
amended as to prevent, as now can be
done hold-up for two years by such
an Insignificant few as. five per cent
of the voters by petition. would
not wipe out initiative or referendum
nor the primary law, but amend both
as follows;
All laws under initiative should he
sent to the voters at least eight
months prior to election and by not
less than thirty per cent of the voters.
All referendums should have thirty
per cent of the voters and we should
have precinct registrar before whom
they should appear and to give their
names to prevent fraud in either case.
In the legislative branch a mem
ber should be allowed to introduce
but one bill until all these bills were
disposed OF, except by universal con-
sent OF both houses and that only in
% "a of aDnronriatinDs - ,,,...'