St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1912-11-01
Vote 322 X Yes
1923 No.

Vote 322 X Yes
323 No.
The Majority Rule amendment,
as shown above, is just as il will
appear on the ballot. This is
one of the most important meas
ures the voters of Oregon will be
called upon TO decide at the COM
ing election.
IL will take from the minority
the much abused power TO initi-
ate and pass laws that only a
small percentage of the people
understand. and confirms the
majority in its rights TO rule.
Has IL not been the purpose of
the initiative TO give the people
the majority the right TO rule?
Surely. How can the majority
rule il 25 or 30 per cent of the
voters are allowed TO enact
laws?
Look at IL this way and you
will see the danger in the law
which the proposed amendment
will remedyl A certain clique.
or certain interests desire a law
or laws passed; they send out an
army of paid canvassers TO solic-
il names for the petitions at so
much per name, the petition is
filed and the measure goes on
the ballot; those who have initi-
ated the measure and those who
signed the petitions a small per
cent of the electorate vote for
il, a few people who know that
the proposed law is aimed at the
rights of the people vote
against IL; but the majority who
read in one paper that the law is
a good one and who read in an
other paper that il is a bad law.
frankly admit that they do not
understand il, and refrain from
voting. What is the result? The
people who have initiated and
who are deeply interested in the
measure a small minority, about
% or 30 per cent of the elector-
ate are counted for il, as are
those who did not vote on il at
all, and il 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
safeguard the rights of the peo-
pie and make the rule of the
majority, majority rule indeed,
and not minority rule as at
present. Is it right that our
state constitution should work SO
that conditions could possibly
arise when less than a majority
of the votes cast at an election
could amend the Constitution?
Is il not evident that this law is
the weak spot i'm our initiative
law? Is il not true that all are
affected 10y the passage of bad
laws as well as good laws? Is i'll
not true that all must pay the cost
of such legislation? Is il right
to say that the approval of a mi
nority of the total number of
votes east at the election should
have the right TO pass any law
or amend the Constitution when
all of the people of the state are
affected by such legislation? Is
il not better TO ohave the approx
al, of a majority of the total
number of votes east at any
election than TO pass any law
without it? If YOU will carefully
consider the merits of the Ma
jority Rule amendment YOU will
vote so that in the future the
voters of Oregon will take more
interest i'm legislation for il will
have a tendency TO restrain eX-
perimenters, causing less un-
tried and experimental measures
being proposed, thus giving the
voter more time for the consid-
Grafton of important measures.
BY voting for the Majority
Rule amendment you will correct
the abusive use of the initiative
law, and thereby preserve it in
the State Constitution.
You, Mr.. Voter, are to decide
this very important question,
and in order to decide il right
you should vote 322 X Yes ON
November 5.
MAJORITY RULE LEAGUE
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