The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-09-24
TWO WORKING-CLASS
MEASURES.
To the Editor:

! this description of two WorklnS-c!asS
measures now on the official ballot
for consideration by the voter next
election day.
Proportional Representation (Ies)
S4S. (No) $40, creates a state wide
district for voting, through the use
of stickers or writing the name OF
the candidate on the ballot, which
name appears only on the ballot i'll
| the district where nomination Is
made and limits the vote in all dis
tricts to choice of but one in such
districts as have more than one can
didate for each party.
BY using stickers or writing the
name in state wide district, minor
ity parties are permitted to conserve
their votes by concentrating them
upon some nominee OF their choice
as to party, principles, etc, any
where in the state.
The principal objections, in our
campaign for this measure, have
been found to be: 1st, that such a
variety of ideas in the Assembly
would tend to obstruct legislation "a
God-send were it so) and the End,
that log-rolling would come through
each faction agreeing with the other
to get their measures through would
give too much legislation. 1t is plain
to be seen that these objections con-
tradict each other. Their argument
is, therefore. of no account.
| If men and women who receive the
sixty highest votes over the entire
state are to represent the people it
is almost certain that better legisla-
tors and better legislation will fol-
low. The change from voting for
one nominee instead of from two t.
twelve iu districts that. have more
than one nominee is not so radical
as to confuse the casting of an in
telligent ballot by any one. In fast
in all districts where but one nom
inee appears on the ballot (as in
many districts) voters will not nee
essarily need to be informed of the
change made By this amendment to
vote intelligently; unless they are
of minority party and wish to CON
centrate their vote with Others for
a friend or party nominee in another
district. The placing of an y mark
before the name of the nominee or
the writing or sticking OF the name
on the ballot of a nominee chosen
from another district lends no COM
plication to voting.
No district will fail of its repre-
sentation by this amendment for
the reason that minority party votes
will concentrate in districts that have
more than one nominee and pro-
portional representation will come
out of these districts; leaving such
districts as have but one nominee
their regular local representative
chosen from one of the parties nom
mating them.
Minority representation, like mi
nority reports in committee, gener-
ally have new and improved ideas
that should reach the people for
their consideration. 1t is the func-
ton of the majority party, always,
to manage and govern while the
function Of any minority party is to
revolutlonize or change conditions
that have become obsolete or fail
to serve the people. Good and not
evil results must follow proportion
al representation in the Legislative
Assembly.
The one great and beneficial fea-
ture that will come to all parties
alike, the relief it will bring to the
overburdened and enforced abuse Of
the initiative. Minority ideas vii
find expressions through their rep
resentatives elected for that purpose
and need not be forced on the initia
, tive. It's use will thereby be re
duced to minimum and Oregon
greatest law protected.
1t is not expected, nor will grea
: changes come that will deprive ma
. iority parties from their management
of affairs of state. 1t is beneficial t.
all. alike, that new ideas be dissem
mated. 1t is the course of evolu
ton in matters of state. Every le
gally recognized political party Il
entitled to representation. Wh.
!. should we not grant it to them?
The Department of Industry an'
Public Works, (Yes) 35c. (No
> 353, is as much needed in these day
! of disinherited thousands OF work
ers as was the public schoo! system
3 in the day it was opposed by sucl
people as had means to educate tnel
: own children. 1t was then rlghtl.
considered an asset to the state u
educate its future citizens and shoul'
i now be considered an asset to tn
state to conserve wasted human en-
ergy for the benefit Of both the stat
d and the individual. 1t matters no
n what the extenuating circumstance
S are that makes unemployment, TIL
condition is with us and like con
tagious diseases must be cared for |
: society is to be protected. Enforce
: idleness begets disregard for govern
. ment and fosters crime. The stat
u can profit by this department il
u building roads, irrigation projects
etc, and maintain the respect of un
employed citizens, without the issu
II of bonds. The school system was Fl
q nanced by giving 1t two sections Q
r land in every township in the state
d It is proposed to finance this depart
ment by taking from those that hav
= builded fortunes, through prior aC
vantages. now gone, after they hav
done with it. A ten per cent inhel
II itance tax taken from the estate
d deceased persons whose fortune
y appraised at $5O,000.00 or more
q but Justice to the rising disinherite
:. generation. 1t will equalize, to
u limited extent, the amassing of gres
Is fortunes of the Harry X. Thaw
type.
C. w. BARZEE.
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