White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1936-02-06
PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS ASLEEP

Public consciousness is extremely tickle. AWak-
end it can be a compelling force shaping the des-
5nes of mankind. Aroused, it can be driving
force which sweeps the customs and works OF cen
5uries into the discard Asleep, it can be an agent
Of corruption, brake on the wheels OF progress.
The easiest standard of measuring the state OF
che public mind is afforded in the local, statewide
and national elections. The results OF these are
sometimes astonishing in their revelation OF the
semper of the people. They are, in fact, SO aston
shing at times as to make us wonder if the people
have any individual sense Of civic duty.
We hear a great deal about the privileges OF
ehe people, It is very popular subject The under
privileged, whether in fact or fancy, have many
self appointed champion Few, however, care to
1alk about the more prosaic and necessary duties
of the people, The two, however, go hand IN hand
It is impossible to grant any Individual or class
!, privilege without binding duty to it.
Oregon voters went to the polls Friday in a state
vide election on proposed initiatives and changes
% the present laws. The temper Of the people was
lastly apparent: they voted an emphatic no on
Every measure. Hidden IN Jnls vote were seVeIal
smusing sidelights
From every statistic available, residents OF Ore
ION are more strongly in favor OF an old-age pen
ion system than those of any other state. Yet
whereas several other states have enacted such
systems, Oregon itself has none. Three times the
-oters of Oregon or their representatives, have
alphabetically turned down the means OF securing
.lch PENSIONS The last session of the legislature
oted to enact pension plan, but when it came
70 providing the money to meet it, they baked.
This left Oregon with pension law but no way
# making the theory fact At the special election
a measure was on the ballot to enact sales tax LII
e.rder to raise the necessary revenue. BY vote
f six to one the voters refused to allow the state
10 collect such revenue
The same people who have memorialized Con-
::ress to give them old age pension, the same
PEOPLE who demanded that their legislature en-
sct state pension plan, refused to provide the
means of accomplishing their demands.
This condition applies not only to Oregon In
Washington the voters went to the polls in 1882
to demand, overwhelmingly, state tax on IN
omes The measure was found unconstitutional
- the legislature proposed constitutional
! mendment in 1884 to remedy this situation. But
lid the people follow up their demands of 1882
nd enact the amendment? No. They took but
little interest in it and it went down to defeat.
In 1882 we heard great deal about the heads
&c heartless corporations who not doing their
snare in meeting the expenses Of government, but
II 1884 we heard nothing about the duties OF the
eople in remedying the situation
Many of our laws need revision. Others need
| !, be defended from attacks by selfish interests
Turing the coming months there will be many mi
1 ative laws Of both types proposed Will the cleo
ton Of 1886 find the public consciousness asleep,
n will the people profit from the serious, even
faough humorous, lessons of the past; cease talk
fsg of their privileges and rights and recognize