East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-01-17

For the sake of the state. the leg
islature and all concerned the East
Oregonian will re-
Some Bunglers joice if the presem
Stin Aboard legislature proves a
high minded body
working in a broad and able way to
serve the public welfare and to do
the will of the people. 1t started
forth with such intentions and many
have been predicting such session.
Yet already distressing signs are
appearing and it is evident that if the
ship makes good voyage she will
have to do so regardless of some weak
spots in the crew.
For instance there is senator from
somewhere who tried to distinguish
himself yesterday by introducing a
bill to abolish the direct primary
law. Such action at this late day in
d!cates the fool killer has been ne
siectng his duty.
There are also several attempts on
foot already to annul the initiative.
Despite the fact that almost every
paper in the state has exposed the
plan as absurd Senator Barrett has
introduced the bill providing for lin
iting the number of initiative meas
ures that may be filed for any one
election. The senator could have
made better headway by leaving that
measure off his list and devoting his
energies to some worthier bills he has
taken up.
Then there are those who want to
develop war between West and Kay
or war between the governor and the
Legislature or war in some other di-
reotlon. Such wars have ruined many
former sessions and surely the present
Legislators know enough to avoid such
bungling. The people do not main
tain the legislature as an institution
for the promotion of factional and
political strife, it is supposed to be a
iiawmakins body,
If the legislature is to gain the con-
) fidence of the people to such an ex-
tent they will look to the legislature
rather than to the initiative for law
making it must prove itself worthy
of such confidence.
There is a move on foot so it is said
to have William F. McCombs, demo
cratic a 10 a
: McCombs, Senator chairman, elected
: From Arkansas. as senator from
Arkansas to sue
r ceed the late Jeff Davis Should the
plan be carried out it would give rec
E ognition to a very able democratic
leader and place Woodrow Wilson:
e campaign manager in the senate.
Discussing the possibility that Nc
: Combs may be chosen senator the
e New York World says:
In spite of New York's claim to hin
certainly Mr.. McCombs is one of Ar
KANSAS distinguished sons. He wa!
born in the state. At the present mo
ment he is there on vacation. /
the state legislature sees fit, there l.
( nothing in the constitution of tn
United States to prevent his election
TO the senate 1t merely provide
that mo person shall be senator whit
shall not have attained to the age o
thirty years and have been nine year
I 9 citizen Of the United States, an
! who shall not, when elected. be al
4 inhabitant Of that state for which h
shall be chosen" For legal purpose
I the term "inhabitant' is as wide as
I church door.
The historic election Of Col. Bake
. Of Balls Bluff fame to be Cnitet
e States senator from Oregon is a cas-
e in point A friend of Lincoln in Hi
: nois in their early days. he had movet
e TO California in 1851 and soon becam
d a leader Of the San Francisco bar
I Called to Oregon to try case he wa
. invited to address the state legisla
g ture at a time when it was deadlocke'
: over the election of a senator. Tn
q impression he made was so great that
dropping the active candidates. tn
= Legislature chose Baker, then reall
r only a visitor from an adjoinin
n state. to be senator from Oregon. II
d was serving both as senator and a
n Colonel Of a regiment he had raise
II in New York and Philadelphia whel
d he fell on the battle field in 1851.
Il What the Oregon legislature did II
ICol. Bakers case the Arkansas lesis