Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-06-05
FOR A LEGISLATIVE SOVIET.

The peoples Power League" composed Of O. R. Hartwig
president of the recently organized Land and Labor party W.
URen father of the Oregon System and sngeax advocate
C. H. Chapman, editor of nonPartisan League in
Idaho Arthur Brock labor organizer and others have drafted
proposed constitutional amendment for submission at the Novem
ber election whch provides soviet for Oregon by
basng election of representatives voters business occupations
instead of partisan politics. abshes the state senate and subor
Idinates the executive department
The proposed amendment proposes house of representatives
Sof hundred members chosen poporonay by occupation
the governing powerwhch will elect of its members
who holds office only while he commands majority support
the Legislature He has no veto power Failing to secure sup
port he must either resign dissolve the legislature and call
election after the of European parliaments The
Legislature can be dissolved and new election ordered by the
people at any time It's life years 1t meets
salary of legislator is $500 annually Voting by mail is
sanctioned.
Registered legal voters of every business are to be entitled
Ito nominate and elect representative in the legislature for
each onehnddh of the whole number of legal voters in the
state who registered under the of that occupation The
proportion and classification of the representatives estimated
follows Ia farmers IA farm housewives tenant workers.
merchants manufacturers railroad and transportation
workers. male clerks and salesmen oggers and sawmi
workers. three professional Capitalists lawyers doctors
bankers priests and edors) 20 town dwelling housewives p
women factory workers. women clerks saewomen stenog
raphe and school teachers for cooks and waers for
shermen for actors and other theatrical employees one
domestic and personal service
The authors expect the people, under this pan elect their
most intelligent uneh and patriotic leaders to represent
hem and expect laws be made and administered first for the
last for the rights of profit
These great expectations The authors have aruis
faith in human nature and respondent belief in the perman
ent class stracaon of Oregon society They opmistc
theorists regards the intelligence and unehness Of the class
but pesmsc to the humanity of the They believe n
1.-THE Inauguration of foreign caste system for American democ
racy and the substitution of vocational calling for ability of
leadership They would make central trades union
regarding only the welfare of the workers. overlooking the fact
that the welfare the workers depends upon the welfare indus
try and that business must be profitable denss and want
place prosperity.
The bill will useful purpose in calling attention to the
defects in existing system 1t contains meritorious
IDEAS limits the franchise to the Industrious and bars the
producer and parasite enghens the term of office making
for greater stability of government 1t would diminish the
vicious influence of the privilege seeking corporation and special
interest whose lobbying done by lawyer legislators under
ainers" fees.
Our governmental faults in Oregon not due much to
the system but to the people who fail in their duties and obga
Nons of citizenship Government will better the people,
become better fit to govern and the people will be fit
under such occupona soviet form than they under the
existing order.
bnctr