Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/770



566 THE CITY OF PORTLAND

bers. In the fall of 1900, I think Mr. Sherman went to Washington, D. C, and a little later Hon. George H. Williams accepted the presidency of the league; Judge Williams was the first man, so far as I know to propose the system in the United States. He offered a resolution for that purpose in the Oregon constitutional convention of 1857. Judge Williams was president of the league until the amend- ment was accepted by the people in 1902.

"A host of men helped very greatly in various ways in this work. Among others that I recall are the late Nathan Pierce, W. W. Myers, L. H. McMahan, George Weeks, A. Hofer, Mr. Waggoner, Hon. Stephen A. Lowell, and at least a hundred others whose names I cannot recall at the moment and perhaps have not even among any printed or written memoranda I have. I never made any effort to keep papers or printed matter with the idea of ever being called on for a history of the work.

"Among the staunchest supporters of the movement were the late Seth Luel- ing, and his wife and daughter. J. D. Stevens also rendered valuable help.

"Among others who helped also in the preparation and circulation of litera- ture were many of the families, and especially wives and daughters of Milwau- kie. I recall particularly Mrs. F. C. Harlow, Miss Edna Ross, Miss Helen Kerr, Mrs. Young and three daughters, whose first names I probably never knew.

"If I could have time to think of this matter and look up old newspapers and records, I could give the names of many who ought to be mentioned in this work if anyone should be. The late H. W. Scott rendered very valuable aid.

"It is impossible for me to do even partial justice to the men and women who have helped and who are certainly worthy of mention in any history of the adoption of the initiative and referendum and other progressive legislation in Oregon.

W. S. U'Ren."

At the recent state election, November 8, 1910, of the thirty-two laws pro- posed by the people's initiative, eight were adopted by the popular vote and twenty-four defeated. The total vote in Multnomah County was 32,474. The vote on the proposed laws, was as follows :

Woman suffrage, yes, 8,614, no, 18,630; Eastern Oregon Insane Asylum, yes, 15,899, no, 9,262; constitutional convention, yes, 8,189, ^'^> IS»682; separate sen- atorial and representative districts, yes, 7,720, no, 15,112; Grange tax amend- ment, No. I, yes, 13,042; no, 10,381; state ownership of railroads, yes, 10,461, no, 13,517; Grange tax amendment, No. 2, yes, 10,740, no, 11,379; salary of Baker County circuit judge, yes, 5,895, no, 10,850; Nesmith County, yes, 8,364, no, 13,754; Monmouth Normal school, yes, 15,314, no, 9,302; Otis County, yes, 6,348, no, 14,863; Clackamas County annexation, yes, 7,651, no, 16,739; Wil- liams County, yes, 5,365, no, 15,318; county tax regulation, yes, 12,695, no, 10,- 695; home rule, yes, 17,076; no, 11,228; employers liability, yes, 17,064, no, 8,963; Orchard County, yes, 5,556, no, 15,064; Clark County, yes, 5,604; no, 14,- 800; Weston Normal school, yes, 11,876, no, 11,409; Washington County an- nexation, yes, 6,550, no, 16,600; Ashland Normal school, yes, 11,499, "o, 11,758; prohibition amendment, yes, 9,931, no, 19,175; prohibition law, yes, 9,457, no, 19,845; employer's liability commission, yes, 10,211, no, 13,707; Rogue river fish- ing prohibition, yes, 15,942, no, 7,234; Deschutes County yes, 6,856, no, 14,173; new county act, yes, 10,356, no, 11,227; ^ct increasing maximum debt for roads, yes, 16,480, no, 6,180; primary nominations for presidential elections, yes, 12,- 994, no, 10,447; State Gazette, yes, 7,835, no, 13,364; proportional representa- tion, yes, 12,265, no, 10,740; three-fourths jury verdicts, yes, 13,442, no, 9,873.

The total cost to the taxpayers of the state was about $7,000 for each meas- ure adopted ; or $56,000 for the eight adopted laws. The total cost of salaries for members at one session of the legislative assembly is only $10,800. The state officials estimate that for printing and circulating the initiative and referendum pamphlets, there was an expense of approximately $20,000. Extra counting