Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-05-16
ALL STAND UNITED.

The efforts now being made by the
alumni of the Oregon Agricultural
college to defeat the university Of
Oregon referendum, is worthy the
personnel of that splendid institution
and shows that the men and women
who claim the O. A. C. as their alma
mater are quick to understand the
menace that now threatens our high
er institutions of education and as
prompt in rendering assistance.
The action of the former o. A. c.
students, however, is only another in
dication that all classes Of people
who know and understand the value
of safeguarding our university from
the attacks of unprincipled and dis
gruntled curbstone pettifOggers and
cheap political pot hunters, are unit
ed, and willing to do what they may
to support our most valued and sa-
cred public institutions.
The needs of the Eugene institu-
tion are well konwn. Even Parkl-
son himself admits that more build
ings are an absolute necessity if the
university is to go on giving the peo-
pie value received for the money
they have given it. Yet, in the face
of this admission, and the further
fact that the foremost educational
authorities of the state declare that
the need is great, this Portland law
yer, piqued no doubt at words utter
ed in the heat of passion by mem
ber of the recent state legislature,
comes brazenly forth and, as on a
former occasion, threatens to again
tie up the efficiency of the university
and render of no effect the money
which the people of the state have al=-
ready expended But, never before
has opposition to the proposed re-
ferring of any legislative act found
so much determined opposition among
all classes. 1t is admitted that the
petition chasers, at so much per
name, are experiencing all sorts OF
difficulties in securing signatures
among the intelligent people in the
rural communities. In several i'll
stances attempts to get signatures III
some of the smaller cities Of the |
state have been given up after few
hours work and, as the days go by,
it becomes more and more evident |
that Parkison and his gang must de-
pend upon the North End of Port
land for their salvation. 1t is no
trouble to get the names there. The
saloon buns and thugs who infest
that locality are willing to sign any
petition or anything that is presented
if the offer be flanked by glass of
beer or a dram of cheap whiskey. 1t
is undoubtedly true that, if the ques
tion lay solely with the rural COM
of the state, the attempts
to embarass the state university would
find short shift The people gener-
ally are behind the institution; they
know its value to the state and the .
great work it is doing and will be
able to do with the coming of ade-
luate facilities, and they are oppos- |
ed to the spending of a large amount
Of money in a special election merely ,
10 defeat the appropriation made for !
he good of education.
As has before been said, time and
again, it is regrettable that the cor {
'gon system" permits of such abuse {
If existing laws. The referendum {
n theory is an attractive proposition, {
seeming to offer to the people the 5
right to say for themselves what leg V
station they do, or do not desire, and b
{ could be made the means of much {
rood, if rightly managed. That it u
las been Of value in the past, on r
everal different occasions, is un- &
Questioned. but when it permits one |,
nan 20 hold up legislation indefinite c
v, il fails of its mission and be- il
ONES a black blotch ON the states g
sw books. Under the provisions of 5,
he referendum as il is now inter il
'reted, il would be possible for Par a
ison, If he secures the signatures W
o his petitions-and the names can Il
e had if there Is cash enough avail d
ble-to hold up legislation indefn- h
ely. Legislative assemblies might a
nact the same legislation time after 9,
me. only to have the referendum q
pplied 10 It and held up for two
ears or more.
This Is not an implication upon q
le intelligence Of the people Of Or eI
ION. The great majority Is willing %
do right. Il wants fair play and IN
inesty. It Is willing to support al az
orthy movements when fairly pre- X
nted. But the trouble Is that many th
IN will sign any petition presented la
them without regari 20 It's merits. el'
d when they go 20 the polls they on
.loE the oft-repeaied injunction: lil
When in doubt. vote no." The PC
server Is confident, however. if ce