The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-11-03
ELECTION SIDE ISSUES.

On November Z the electors will be
called upon to express their approval
or disapproval of several measures
that are to appear on the ballot. One
is initiative No. 40, calling for repeal
OF the poll tax law. Initiative No. As
known as the "30-10 bill". Referendum
measure No. IL, relating to AN act
providing for the issuance of certifi-
Gates Of necessity and convenience by
the director Of public works to public
service companies in case where SIM
liar service is being rendered the To-
calities proposed to be served by other
public service companies" Referen-
dunn No. IL AN act providing that
parents or guardians may forbid phys
ical examinations of their school chill
cept when such children show symp-
toms of contagious or infectious dis
eases; and providing that vaccination
incubation or other medication should
not be made condition of attendance
or employment in suca schools except
OF persons suspected Of having or who
have been exposed to contagious dis
ease" Referendum measure No. H.
IAN act relating to primary nOmina-
tons and the registration of voters
and requiring electors to state their
party affiliations at the time Of regis
tering. Referendum measure No. Is
AN act relating to the election and
powers of precinct committeeman and
party committees. and nomination OF
candidates for public office, and the
holding of party conventions for the
purpose Of adopting platforms and
nominating prudential electors" An
amendment to the state constitution
which is IAN act amending section ~
of article l of the state constitution
by providing that the trial of any per-
son accused Of public offense COM
mitted on any railway car, coach. train
boat or other public conveyance may
be had in any county through which
such conveyance may pass" An
amendment to the state constitution
AN act amending section 4 of article
VIII of the state constitution by pro-
viding that payments from state apprO.
priations should be made within one
calendar month after the end Of the
next ensuing fiscal biennium." An
amendment to the state constitution
Fan act amending section 20 or article
II of the state constitution relating to
compensation to be paid members Of
the legislature by increasing the COM
pensation of such members from $500
to $1,000 day for each days attend
ance during the session"
Thus, there are nine side issues that
the voters of the state are expected to
express themselves upon by voting
either for or. against, and in order to
vote intelligently the voter should take
some little time to familiarize himself
or herself with, the various PROPOSE
tons. But very few voters are going to
take that trouble, hence will vote hap
hazard or not at all. 1t is safe to say
that ninety per cent of the voters will
make no effort to ascertain the merits
Of the various measures upon which
they are called to vote, very large
per cent will not vote upon them at
all, and hence whether adopted or de-
fea ted the result will be brought about
by minority Of the total vote polled
for candidates.
And therein rests the danger OF max
ing or rejecting laws by the present
system Of popular voting. The fact that
a minority of voters can either pass a
bad law or kill a good one leaves an
opening for organized minorities to
dictate the laws of the state. A major
ity Of all votes cast at a general cleo
ton should be necessary to endorse
referendum, an initiative measure or a
change in the constitution No harm
would come to the commonwealth II
such was the requirements in referring
any measure to the popular vote. II a
proposed law had merit, II its adoption
was considered timely and necessary
a majority of the voters would support
1t. II it were Tad law 10 would be
killed by voters failing to vote at all
upon the proposition. The experience
of the past will be repeated on NOvem-
Der and the measures that will be
printed upon the ballots will be adopt
ed or rejected only by fraction OF the
full vote cast.