Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-04-04
AGAIN-THE REFERENDUM.

1t is reported that Parkison, the
Portland attorney, IS again after the
state university and will soon begin
the circulation Of petitions to apply
the referendum to certain appropria-
tions of the last legislature provid-
ing for Improvements at Eugene. 1t
is lamentable that the Portland pet
tyfogger could not choose some other
means for venting his spleen, and it
is regrettable that the multifarous
workings of the far-famed "Oregon
system" offer him an easy opportu.
nifty to do it.
1t is doubtful. however, whether
the present move will succeed We
do not believe that the people of Or
eogn will longer countenance this
studied and persistent attack upon
her educational institution engineer
ed by this Portland bushwhacker The
state has located a state university
at Eugene Other states have insti-
tutions Of this nature and all of them
have, or should have. the support of
the people. As the state grows in
population and wealth. greater de-
mands are made upon it, and the ia
cilities that were sufficient a few
years ago. are now wholly inadequate.
More students are annually applying
to the university to complete their
education. and common justice to
them, and TO the people of the state
who are supporting the university. I.
demand that they should be given .
every opportunity to increase their /
efficiency as citizens, by acquiring .
the accomplishments and finish which .
the state university offers. This can
not be done without adequate facih-
ties and that such do not now exist |
in the fullest measure at Eugene is
an open secret. We have never heard
that Parkison argues otherwise. He
doesn't appear to care. Such minor
matters trouble him little He only
sees in the state university a shining
mark for his arrows of prejudice and
in the biennial appropriations and
projects for improvement a means
he may embarass it and him
der its progress and usefulness TO the
state.
The Observer is not informed as
to Parkison's alma mater. We do
not know whether he has one Judg- ,
ing from his actions we are inclined
to believe that his education has been {
gathered mostly from the teachings
IF soap box orators and l. W. W.
hugs. In the event, however that {
ne was at one time a student at some 5
advanced institution of learning. we d
wonder how he would have viewed e
he persistent and disreputable tac- :
les of some trouble-monger to bring t
hat institution into disrepute and ,
hinder its work and usefulness. Pos c
ibly he secured his education in c
ome state where no curious and Won {
lerful system made such methods q
possible. If he did. he was lucky. ;
Parkison depends for success upon n
he plea of reducing taxation. He p
uow~ that this appeals to many peo-
Die, and that a large number are per- g
ectly willing TO kill any measure that n
outemplates the appropriation of 7
money without reference to the OBJ 2
ects TO be attained. II is sufficient 5
hat such appropriation will have a C.,
to increase the burden of q
ayation and il is swatted to death a
-ithout regard TO results. We know cl
hat taxes have increased during the ii
lst 10 years; any other result would W
ave been impossible when one takes %,
Ito consideration the rapid develop al
lent which Oregon has experienced in
uring the same time And when we q
aalize that property values have in Oh
-eased, that conditions have improv- cl
j, and that modernity now prevails W
here old time methods once held Cd
way. we must admit that there Is an
'me reason for the increase. That az
lere may have been many instances ed
here the increase was not justified. at
nd that a more competent admins ca
alton Of some public matters might of
Ave been possible. 10 the end that el
me OF the increase might have been lie
minated. is undoubtedly true. but lei
creased expense Is the heritage Of
and IL Is hardly proha- ch
! that even those who complain the 50
lst, would be content 20 return 10 ne
; conditions that formerly prevail ov
and do away with the privileges Of
It they now enjoy. m,
The founders Of the state univer- op
= intended 10 place Oregon on 4 ic.
r with other states along educa- nil
nal lines. They undoubtedly in ne
ded to lay the frame work Of an th,
-itution which would one day inl