DEMOCRATIC OREGON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9933, 23 August 1910, Page 2

DEMOCRATIC OREGON.

A LESSON IN POLITICS. k

Oregon, writes Senator Bourne in ■'Collier's Weekly," has evolved, adopted, and demonstrated the best system of popular government in the world today. It incorporates:— Tho Australian ballot, which ■ assure® the honesty of elections. Tho Registration Lay,-, which guards the integrity of-tho privilege of Americanship—participation in government. The Direct Primary,; which; absolutely insures popular selection of : all candidates, and establishes the responsibility of tlie public servant to the electorate and not to any political boss or special interest.

Tho Initiative and Referendum, which is the keystone of the arch of popular government, for by means of this tho people may accomplish such other reforms .as they desire. The initiative develops the electorate because it encourages study of principles and policies of government, and affords the originator of neAV ideas in government an opportunity to secure popular judgment upon his measures if 8 per cent of the voters of his State deems the same worthv of submission to popular vote. The referendum prevents misuse of the Eower temporarily centralised in the egislature.

/fiie Corrupt Practises Act, which is necessary as a complement to the initiative and referendum and the direct primary, for, without the Corrupt Practises Act, these other features of popular government could be abused. The Publicity Pahiphlot, provided for by the Corrupt - Practises Act, affords all candidates for nomination or election equal means of presenting beforo the voter their views upon public questions, and protects the honest candidate against the misuse of money in political campaigns. Under the operation of this law popular verdicts will be based upon ideas, not money; argument, not abuse: principles, not boss or machine dictation. The Recall, which is rather ah. admonitory or precautionary measure, .the existence of which will prevent the necessity for its use. At rare intervals tliere may be occasion for exercise of the recall against municipal or oounty officers, but, I believe, the fact of its existence will prevent need for its use against the higher officials. It is, however, an essential feature of a. complete system of popular government. Under tho machine, and political boss system the confidence of sincere partisans is often betrayed by recreant leaders in political contests, and by public servants who recognise the irresponsible machine instead of tho electorate as the cource of power to which they are responsible. If the enforcement of the Oregon laws will right theso wrongs, then they were conceived in Ansdom and born in justice to the people, in justice to tho public servant. and in justice to the partisan. Plainly stated, the aim and purpose of the laws is to destroy the irresponsible machine and to put all elective offices in the State in direct touch with the people as the real source of authority—in short, to give direct and full force to the ballot of every individual elector in Oregon and to eliminate dominance of corporate and corupt influences in the administration of public affairs. The Oregon' laws mark the course that must bo pursued before the wrongful use of corporate power can be dethroned,, the people restored to power, and lasting reform secured. They ensure absolute government by the people. Electors who believe in the validity and importance of their sovereign citizenship, in tlieir own. intelligence, and in their own capacity to think and aet for themselves politically, should study these Oregon laws, and "in their respective States and communities should work for the adoption of similar laws, should question all candidates for elective offices as to their attitude upon these measures; support only such candidates as pledge themselves to work diligently for the adoption of similar laws and defeat candidates declinino- to. make such public declarations.