Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-11-01

The Majority Rule amendment as
shown above is just as it will appear
on the ballot. This is one of the most
important measures the voters of
Oregon will be called upon to decide
at the coming election.
1t will take from the minority the
much-abused power to initiate and
pass laws that only small percentage
of the people understand, and con-
firms the majority in its rights to rule.
Has it not been the purpose of the
initiative to give the people-the ma
jority-the right to rule? Surely.
How can the majority rule if 25 or
80 per cent of the voters are allowed
to enact laws?
Look at it this way and you will
see the danger in the law which the
proposed amendment will remedy!
A certain clique, or certain interests
desire a law or laws passed; they
send out an army of paid canvassers
to solicit names for the petitions at
so much per name, the petition is fill
ed and the measure goes on the ball
lot; those who have initiated the
measure and those who signed the
petitions-a small per cent of the
electorate--vote for it, few people
who know that the proposed law is
aimed at the rights of the people
vote against it; but the majority who
read in one paper that the law is a
good one and who read in another
paper that it is a bad law. frankly
admit that they do not understand
it, and refrain from voting. What is
the result? The people who have in
itated and who are deeply interested
in the measure-a small minority,
about 25 or 80 per cent of the cleo
torate-are counted for it, as are
those who did not vote on it at all
and it is declared passed.
That is what has happened in the
past and what will happen at the
coming election. That is Minority
Rule. not Majority Rule
The proposed amendment will safe
guard the rights of the people and
make the rule of the majority, major
ity rule indeed, and not minority rule
as at present.
Is it right that our state constitu-
ton should work so that conditions
could possibly arise when less than a
ton could amend the Constitution?
Is it not evident that this is the
weak spot in our initiative law?
Is it not true that all are affected
by the passage of bad laws as well
as good laws? Is 1t not true that all
must pay the cost of legislation?
Is it right to say that the approval
of a minority of the total number of
votes cast at an election should have
the right to pass any law or amend
the Constitution when all of the peo-
pie of the state are affected by such
legislation?
Is it not better to have the approx
al of a majority of the total number
of votes cast at any election than tO
pass any law without it?
If you will carefully consider the
merits Of the Majority Rule amend
ment you will vote so that in the fu
ture the voters of Oregon will take
more interest in legislation, for it will
have a tendency to restrain expert
menters, causing less untried and ex-
perimental measures being proposed
thus giving the voter more time for
the consideration of important meas
ures.
BY voting for the Majority Rule
you will correct the abus- |
i've use of the initiative law, and
thereby preserve il i'm the State Con-
stitutiOn.
You, Mr.. Voter, are to decide this
very important question, and in or
der to decide it right you should vote /
322 Y Yes on November 5.
MAJORITY RULE LEAGUE. e.
(Paid Adv.)