The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-01-11
Tbe Aem Rule
tn Oregon
Creat and Direct Benefit Has Fol-
lowed the Introduction OF
the Initiative and Refer
endum and Recall.

The fact that self-interest gov
ems the actions of every one OF
us. Jonathan Bourne, Jrs DelleVes'
is the best possible guarantee OF
the success Of government by the
initiative, the referendum and the
recall. For the people, Mr.. Bourne
points out in an article in the At
lantic Monthly, will vote for what
will be to their own benefit, and
they are the best judges OF their
own self interest.
Mr.. Bourne replies to an attack
made by Representative Samuei
w Mccall, who doubts the wisdom
and efficacy of the new rule.
Mccall cited the action of the peo-
nle of Oregon in the matter OF the
Columbia River salmon nsnerles
as an argument against the lnltI-
alive. Two opposing interests, the
fish wheel operators and the gill
net fishermen, introduced Dills'
each of which made the methods
used by the other unlawful. me
voters adopted both measures and
flsing was at an end. But only
temporarily, Mr.. Bourne adds. Inc
Legislature then passed a Dill whlcn
nermits fishing within reasonable
regulation, a law which the
friends of conservation had been
irving for years to obtain. Thus
1.-The initiative, by working a tenn
porary hardship, accomplished a
great good.
Replying to another accusation
Iof McCall's, Mr.. Bourne says;
81 deny unequivocally that IN Ell
feet or in substance we in Oregon
have abandoned representative
government. Let us consider the
facts. AT the last general election
the people Of Oregon voted upon
80 measures. OF these measures,
fl were constitutional amendments,
of which four were adopted and
seven rejected. OF the q bills sub
mitted to the people only five were
enacted and is rejected. The re-
suit of the direct vote was nine
measures adopted. The Oregon
Legislature held a 40-day session
last January, considered TBS bills
and 235 resolutions or memorials.
Two hundred and seventq-five Of
the bills were enacted. Evidently
the extent of substitution of di-
rect legislation is indicated by the
ration of 9 to 275. This is not exact
| ly abandonment of the represent
alive system.
1T is frequently asserted" he
continues, that the voter in Ore
gon is required to pass upon 32
measures in the few minutes he
occupies the booth on election day
Such is not the case. He has sew
eral weeks in which to determine
how he will vote and merely takes
a few minutes in which to make his
ballot"
The recall has been severely at
tackled as working a hardship OF
Ipublic officials. Certainly that has
not been its effect in Oregon, Mr.
Bourne says.
"The man, or men," he writes
who attack an officer under thu
recall must pay the expense o
their campaign. The man in Office
has not only the advantage of hi
official record, the prestige of hi
office, the desire of the American
voter to give every incumbent o.
an office a square deal, but he has
the further very material advan-
tage of payment of his campaign
expenses out of the public treas
ury. Any officer who is unable tC
make out case in his own defens,
with all these advantages is very
probably a fit subject for recall
proceedings.
IAN individual has no personal
right to public Office" he declares
though some few who under del
egated government have bought
their offices may think they have
The Office belongs to the people
and they are entitled to have ii
filled by whomsoever they please