Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-05
PoRTLAND's WHAT 1T
DISCLOsEs.

s,~A HE PORTLAND election is over,
the charter carried and the may
or and four commissioners who
will have entire charge Of the
city's affairs, elected. II. r. AL
bee is mayor, having been elected by a
majority of approximately 5000, and
Robert G. Dieck, William l.. Brewster,
C. A. Bigelow and Will H. DAILY are the
commissioners. The new form Of gov
ernment, new for Oregon, at least, will
be watched with keen interest by the
whole state and if it proves the success
it's advocates claim for it, it will be
adopted by every city in this state. Our
present system Of mayor and a council,
is cumbersome and under the best Of
conditions, not satisfactory. There is
lack Of responsibility necessarily under
the system, but whether the commission
plan will be an improvement remains
to be seen, and Portland will demon.
strate it.
The election was a surprise in one
way, and that was in the small vote
polled. With a hot fight over mayor,
and some so candidates for the office
of commissioner, it would naturally be
expected that large vote would be
pOIled. Instead of this scarcely more
than half the voters took the trouble
10 do their duty as citizens, and 60 to
the polls The total vote with a few
precincts incomplete being 50,O92, as
shown by the vote on mayor. This may
run up to about $4,000 This is an as
founding showing. Astounding because
it shows the total lack of interest in
civic affairs by one.half the population.
With the proposition to change the en-.
tire form of city government before
them, one half the voters said by their
acts they didn't care a cent about it,
had no interest in it. II is high time
that the commission form OF govern.
ment be adopted when such condition
exists, for the responsibility for bad
government can easily be fixed, and a
careless and indifferent citizenship, be
in a measure protected in spite Of it.
self. Under the old system with no
moro interest taken in tho selection of
officers than Portland has just display.
ed, the city was at the mercy Of its
worst element, for that element always
votes, and in large cities especially
does not always vote right
In tho light Of yesterdays election il
is really astounding that Portland here
tofore has had so good government
as sho has had, and II speaks well OF
her present mayor and councilmen, who
gave the city government much bet
ter than it deserved A community
composed of voters too carclesr Of theil
rights individually, or Of the welfar,
Of the community to attend the polli
and take Part in the government ot
their city, deserves to be robbed and il
extremely fortunate II it is not Tn,
now mayor and commissioners go int,
office with only the votes of about one
fourth Of the city behind them aud thi
in country where it is our proudes
boast that the majority rules
For years the question Of female suf
fragc was agitated, and finally bccam,
the law, but the women prove to be N,
better citizens than the men. Would i
not bo the part Of wisdom to make tn,
children voters nexti They at leas
would so to the polls and in most mat
ters would vote as intclligcntly as
large portion Of the present voters
What we need, however, is not NOR,
persons capable Of voting, but moro VIII,
will exercise their right. II may com,
TO tho point whore laws will have to b,
passed compelling voters TO cxercis,
their rights or be disfranchiscd. t,
register HIS or her vote at every elec
tion is the duty Of every good citizen