Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/765



THE CITY OF PORTLAND 563

about by this Australian ballot league formed here in Portland ; and of which Edward Bingham, an attorney here, and Charles H. Woodward, a druggist, and afterwards a state senator, were the active promoters — Woodward giving money as well as time.

Non-Partizan Judges. Now in this year of 1910 the bar association of Portland, Oregon, has launched the proposition that Oregon ought to have a non-partisan judiciary composed of republicans and democrats, and nominated and elected without respect to politics. The democratic party being in the minor- ity has of course approved of this proposition ; and the nominees by the bar as- sociation for judges of the supreme court at the late election comprised two democrats — William Rufus King and James T. Slater — both being members of the supreme court by appointment of a democratic governor, and one republi- can, Thomas A. McBride, also at present a member of the supreme court by appointment of the acting governor, secretary of state, Benson. Judge Martin L. Pipes, a prominent lawyer in practice having been put forward by the bar association to advocate the non-partisan judges, Mr. C. S. Jackson, of Rose- burg, replies to Judge Pipes as follows, which is a sample of current discussion:

"Judge Pipes gives as another reason why political judicial selections should not be made, 'that it narrows down the judicial timber from which judges are selected, to a mere clump.' I do not so view it. His suggested system of nomi- nations destroys competition and allows but one selection from the whole avail- able timber. As it now is, we have two, and perhaps three or more 'clumps' to select from, and each one of these 'clumps' are represented before the people in the choicest selections, li the majority 'clump' selects a rotten or 'punk' piece of timber, the people are gratified to know there is sound timber on the market, and available. But if there is but one 'stick' chosen from one 'clump' as a whole, and the persons making the selection are dealing largely in 'punk,' what show has the common people to accept, but 'punk?' The woods may be full of good, sound timber, but under such a system as suggested, of what use would it be?"

DIRECT LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE,

Next after the provisional government organized by the pioneers in 1843, in point of importance in the history of legislation and government in the state of Oregon, comes the agitation in favor of and final adoption of what is known in general terms, "Direct Legislation by the People." This movement, com- menced in 1892 and agitated and discussed continuously for ten years, resulted in the adoption of the system by the people at the general election in June, 1902. The principle was presented to the people for adoption or rejection, by a proposed amendment to the state constitution, providing that the people might initiate or propose legislation as an original proposition, and that they should have the right and power to reject or approve any act of the state legislature. The popular vote on this amendment to the constitution was 62,024 in favor of it, and 5,668 against it.

Under that amendment to the constitution laws have been proposed by the people, or adopted or rejected by the people on referendum from the legislature as follows :