Th. New,.Review, Ro.eburg, Or.-Thur.., Nor. 17, 19491 We Neye. Knew Coud ge So Beautiful
Published D tlly Except Sunday l y the
News-3evie Company, Inc.
Cottrtd It eeciftid olaaa mHf M 1, IBiO, at tbt post ofMo tl
Etoieborg, Orifon, uodnr tot ( March t, UlS
CHARLE8 V. STANTON EDWIN L. KNAPP
Editor X&P0 Manager
Member of the Associated Press, Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association, the Audit Bureau of Circulations
fttpraitnttrf by WKKT-HOLLIDA T CO., INC. rfleM In Na Vork, Chlcaf.
Baa ranciaco Los Aofdet, PrlD. SL Lul.
LIB3t;tttIIUN RAI'KS In Oregon Hy Mall rt Tear !.. ill mailt ha $4.5t,
Ihra mentha tt.SO By City Carrier Per year 110.00 (In advancer, leia thaa
ae rear, par month II. 00 Oolalde Oregon Br Hall Per rear t 00. lw
menfhi 14 IS iirae montba 12.14 '
SIMPLER ELECTIONS
By CHARLES V. STANTON
Secretary of State Earl Newbry reports he is studying
the proposal made last week by Associated Press members
from Oregon that the state's voting system be modernized.
The matter was brought before the A. P. conference by
W. M. Tugman, editor of the Eugene Register-Guard, who
has been working on the proposal for several years.
Tugman's suggestion was that modern business tabulating
machines be used to count ballots instead of continuing the
slow, inefficient and cumbersome counting board method
now practiced. Voting in the separate precincts would be
very similar to the present method, except for the form
of ballot, but tabulation of ballots would be accomplished in
a matter of minutes rather than days.
Tugman's particular peeve concerns the "bed-pheet" form
of ballot, which grows in size with every election. Any voter,
we imagine, shares the dislike with him.
Given a cumbersome paper ballot and crowded into a
narrow booth, the voter wrestles with the huge "ticket"
while trying to write on a narrow, knot-filled plank.
After knocking off his hat a half dozen times, dropping
his bifocals, and juggling a dripping umbrella, which suc
ceeds in soaking his ballot so the paper tears with every
mark, the voter becomes so exasperated that he bears down
too hard and breaks the point of the pencil. Then, after be
coming entangled in the pencil's restraining cord while try
ing to put on a new point, he finally reaches such a stage
of temper that he votes for all the crack-pot candidates and
scratches an X before every "no" on initiative and refer
endum measures as a means of expressing his resentment.
Aside from introduction of the Australian ballot, which.
in part, is responsible for present complications, Oregon's
election system has undergone virtually no change since
statehood was achieved. .
Prior to the Australian ballot, a voter could cast a pre
marked ticket furnished him by his political party. But
when we eliminated party conventions and went to primary
elections and Australian ballots, opening the way for inde
pendent and self-nominated candidates, and then added the
initiative and referendum, we really complicated the election
system.
Now we have long lists of candidates for each party post,
special measures, federal, state and local nominees, etc., all
printed on one ballot.
Too, with population doubling, our precincts have grown
rapidly more rapidly, in fact, than county courts have
been able to adjust them. So counting boards have been
forced to spend many weary hours tabulating the results,
and, particularly, wasting time patiently listing useless
write-in votes.
Business machine manufacturers have built machines
capable of sorting and tabulating cards at a high rate of
speed. It would be possible to furnish the voter with a
"book" containing his ballot in the form of cards in which
he woulcTpunch holes on the spot where he would normally
mark his X. The book of cardboard ballots would be much
easier to handle than the cumbersome paper bed sheet now
used. The election would be conducted in the precinct exactly
ns at present, except that the votes would not be counted
there. Then, after all ballots were cast, the ballot boxes
would be closed and sealed, brought to the office of the
county clerk, as at present, and, in the presence of an offi
cial board, boxes would be opened and ballots put through
a machine, which, in a few seconds, would deliver the pre
cinct tabulation.
Whereas it now requires from 2-1 to IS hours to count
election ballots in the various precincts, machines could
do the same work in a matter of minutes.
At the last election, Douglas county spent $2,403.50 on
election boards. One-half of this sum would represent the
money used to pay counting boards. At the next election
the county Will have 10 additional precincts, bringing the
cost to more than $3,000, or $1,500 just for counting, when
the work could be done by machine at virtually no cost
other than interest on investment and depreciation. When
'not used for election purposes, the machine could be used
for sorting registration slips, tax statements, and any other
jobs involving sorting or tabulating.
Manufacturing companies report the machines could be
constructed to meet any election requirements and still be
used for genera! business.
It would seem to us that the proposal merits study by
state officials and action by the legislature.
In the Day's News
(Continued from Page One)
By Viahnett S. Martin
Remember the days when
slip ol the lip might sink a
ship?" Remember when It was
learned that signing subscription
blanks giving only Navy P. O.
addresses and name of ship was
a serious "leak" in our need for
secrecy about ship movements?
Remember the bold, high-pressuring
salesgirls who would grab
hold of a sailor and hang on
until he either signed or shook
her off Impatiently? If several
hundred sailors gave a certain
ship, guess where that ship was?
Well, it doesn't matter now
what goes on a magazine sub
scription blank. But the editor
of the Cottage Grova Sentinel
in a recent issue took front page
space to warn his readers that
there has been "an unusual num
ber of outside high-pressure solici
tors the past sixty days; the most
numerous, the crews of maga
zine solicitors."
The editor urges his readers
to ask to see the slip, either pink
or blue, being issued by the local
chamber of .commerce's Investi
gating committee: reasons for ap
proval of disapproval are given
",i the slip. After that "it is up
to you as an individual whether
or not you want to buy what
the solicitor has to sell."
"There have been instances,"
says the editor, "where the mag
azine or book is never received
after It is paid for and at least
one instance officers are looking
for a solicitor who attempted to
raise a check from $5. to $50."
Such solicitors often high pres
sure the 'lady of the house' into
buying something she doesn't
want, or perhaps feels she might
better have done without. The
carefully trained crew-men, and
crew-girls are quick to spot a
weakening in sales resistance and
make the most of the moment.
A lovely young mother of five,
a neighbor, some years ago, in
a weak moment signed for a set
of books didn't read carefully
the fine print. She shfd many
tears over those payments which,
legally, she had to make. But
maybe It was a cheap lesson at
that? Learned the hard way.
Let's give our business to local
people whom we know, or who
have local credentials.
Editorial Comment
From The Oregon Press
New Legislature
Plan Launched By
Farm Federation
LA GRANDE. Nov. 17-t.P
An initiative measure to chance
the State Legislature to the Fed
eral system of House and Senate
membership was planned today
by the Oregon Farm Bureau fed
eration.
State Rep, Giles French, Moro,
said the ballot measure lor a
constitutional amendment was
being prepared. This followed a
vote by the Farm Bureau's con
vention on the proposal.
The delegates favored reappor
tioning the legislative member
ship of the State House of Rep
resentatives by population and
giving each county two momlers
in the State Senate. Both Houses
are presently apportioned on a
population basis although not
revised for recent changes with
membership limited to 60 in the
House and 30 in the Senate.
The proposal resulted from
earlier convention declarations to
oppose any reapportionment that
would deprive farm areas of
their influence under the existing
legislative system.
President Lowell Steen warned
of a State property tax of up to
9 mills In 19M unless the state
found new revenue sources. He
said state spending Is excessive.
He said Oregon had gone over
board on schools and pensions.
TOURIST ADVERTISING
GOOD 'INVESTMENT
(Oregon City Enterprise)
Oregon's 1919 tourist business
brought estimated revenues of
110 million dollars into the state,
the Oregon state highway com
mission travel information de
partment has recently reported.
The detailed report is worth not
ing. This Is a substantial Increase,
of 19 percent, over the 1948 total
of $92,000,000 and surpasses the
1947 estimate of $105,000,000, the
previous record. The last prewar
travel vear of 1941 Is credited
with a 'total of $51,000,000. The
1949 figures are based on a state
highway department traffic
check of out-of-state automobiles
at 15 major points of entry.
The average 1949 expenditure
per day per person is estimated
at $5.75 as compared to $..3.i
during the 1948 travel year. Each
out-of-state car represented an
expenditure of $113.39, based on
an average load of 2.9 persons
per car and an average stay of
6.8 days in Oregon, or equiva
lent to' $39.10 per person. These
figures represent motorists who
stayed in campgrounds as well as
those w ho patronized hotels, auto
courts and resorts, providing a
thorough cross section of Oregon
vacation travel.
Approximately 777.450 out-of-state
automobiles visited Oregon
during the year, with average
mileage of 832 for each.
Oregon attracfd visitors Irom
on an increasingly competitive
basis. Currently nearly all the
states are engaged In aggressive
promotion of their recreational
and other resources by national
advertising and publicity. Each
section is doing its utmost to in
crease tourist revenue, because
every state realizes the value of
the tourist.
Also tjavel abroad continues to
be pushed by European coun
tries and foreign resort areas.
Canada, Mexico and South Amer
ica are bidding for more Ameri
can visitors through extensive
advertising programs. The state
must compete.
Oregon's own advertising pro
gram through the fall, winter and
spring of 1948 and 1949 brought
112.416 inquiries by mall. The
prewar record was set in 1940
when 75,000 mail inquiries on Or
egon vacation lands were receiv
ed. Oregon's scenic attractions
were featured in col- and black
and white ads in national maga
zines, motor club periodicals,
travel magazines and newspa
pers. Newspaper advertisements are
used in the spring and fall to
lengthen the vacation season bv
encouraging tourist travel in the
spring and early summer of the
year and then again during Sep
tember when Indian summer
days continue on into October.
Preparations are now beins
verttsing campaign to encour
made'for the 1949-50 Oregon ad
age vacation travel in the state
ers," whatever you want to call
them long have raised the hue
and cry against stream pollution
by industry and municipalities.
Now industry sues municipality.
Every center of civilization, al
ways, has had this problem. And
few have handled it with much
success. From what we hear,
Portland and San Francisco are
two of the worst.
Some persons have wondered
if there will be this nuisance pro
blem in connection with the Her
cules operation here. Generally
the matter has been shrugged off
with the remark that thi Klam
ath river is so far gone as a fish
ing stream in its upper reaches
that It makes little difference
now anyway.
In the early days before the
dams at Copco, Keno, and Link
river were put in cutting off
fish runs and fluctuating the
stream flow and before irriga
tion drainag' waters and the pol
lutions of "civilization" poured
into its waters, the Klamath was
one of the finest fishing streams
in the world.
Even now in winter and earlv
spring, a host of fishermen find
it squirming with Rainbow trout
when conditions are right.
The sad part of it is that con
ditions generally have to reach
a horrible condition, as at Port
land, before anybody listens
much to the pleas for correction.
every state in the union, with i for am Iter busy tourist vear in
The second building at Harvard
University, finished In 1654. was
Intended for the Instruction of
the Indians.
The peach was celebrated In
Chinese literature 20 centuries
before it was cultivated In Eu
rope.
California credited with more
than 50 percent because of Its
proximity and large population.
As In previous years Washington
and Illinois were second and
third In the number of out-of-state
cars, and Idaho was fourth.
Early in 1949. a declining year
for the tourist industry was pre
dicted. Out-of-state traffic indi
cated increases as early as April,
setting a pattern for the year,
and the decline never developed.
The 194S travel volume suffer
ed Irom May and June flood wa
ters in the Columbia ri I . which
In 19-19 in no way threatened traf
fic at any time. Weather through
the summer was ideal in every
part of the state.
iThe travel industry continues
1950. The highwav fund so used
is one of the best investment
Oregon as a state is making.
Make The Yellow Line Shine
The Medford Mail-Tribune
The peasoup log which has
pestered much of the western
portion of Oregon and Washing
ton in recent days has sharply
emphasized the need for keeping
freshly painted the yellow line
which divides traffic on the high
ways. Of all the rules, signs, engin
eering and other mediums, de
signed to safeguard traffic none
contribute so much and none are
so easy to install as these same
yellow marks, trailing endlessly
before the motorist at once his
guide and his comforter, espec
ially at night or in fog.
In some instances the Pacific
highway lines have become near
ly obliterated by heavy traffic
and non-renewal; at other spots
repairs have been made which
covered up the paint.
On curves, at intersections or
other locations where there is
considerable traffic and in any
instances where there is much to
divert a driver's attention, the
yellow line should be kept espec
ially emphatic with fresh paint.
The yellow line is the greatest
safety measure the hijhway
commission can provide and
though 'it is realized we cannot
have everything desired In our
state highway system, this is one
Item for which there should be
ample provision of money and
manpower.
STREAM POLLUTION SUIT
(Klamath Kalis Herald and
Tribune!
A short item on the AP from
Portland Saturday said the city
of Portland will stand suit in
circuit court next week for $140.
000 damages on the charge that
city sewage coats cedar logs in
Columbia Si -ugh causing that
much loss to a shingle company.
Times change. This action pro
bably brings a sardonic chuckle
to many members of such be
knighted groups as the sports
fishermen. Outdoors p e o p 1 e
"conservationists," "nature lov-
NATIONAL COST PICTURE
(The Bend Bulletin)
Here are some facts worth re
membering against the day when
the voters will again have an
opportunity to halt the rapid des
cent of their country Into national
bankruptcy. The figures are pre
ed considerthle circulation
through distribution to
crowds attending the recent Pa
cific International Livestock ex
position. They run as follows:
"From 1946 to 1949 (150 vears)
the Truman Administration
spent $177,000,000,000.
"From 1789 to 1930 (150-years)
The nited States government
spent $167.0t00Q.0O0. This in
cluded the cost of five major
wars.
"There Is a hidden mortgage
of $6,000 on every home In the
United States.
"Orogonians paid $337,000,000
In federal taxes last year (more
than the total cash value of all
crops that same year'. This was
your contribution to the Truman
tax and spend program.
"Oregonians paid $75,000,000 In
state taxes last year. This cover
ed the complete cost of our state
f;overnment, which was efflclent
y carried out by a republican
administration operating under a
balanced budget."
The current national adminis-
smug satisfaction because we are
Americans.
IIOW does "Balkanites" work?
Well, if you're hungry for
power, you first get everybody
split up Into factions nations,
tribes, social classes, self-seeking
groups, isms, etc. Then you In
spire everybody with, hate, fear
and suspicion of everybody else.
After that, it'i duck soup.
You get them all to FIGHTING
EACH OTHER and In a little
while you're top dog.
-
SIMPLE, isn't It?
But It's the simple things that
click.
Following this simple formula.
despots and DEMAGOGUES have
ruled the older parts of the world
for more centuries than you can
count on all your fingers and all
your toes.
The result is what we see now
when we get up on' a high place
and look down on the present-day
world.
AMERICA, he told us, has re
mained an island of happiness
in this sea of god-awful misery
because so far we have had the
good sense to banish such things
as nationalism, social classes and
so on and just be ourselves with
each other.
COMMUNISM (whose fruits he
has seen and lived under) he
disposed of easily and casually.
It is just the old racket dressed
up in new clothes. The communist
big shots, using the old tactics,'
are grabbing themselves the
gravy and leaving the common
run of the people to live on the
slop.
WHAT does he propose as the
cure?
For the world as a whole he
favors a world state, patterned
after the United States, with an
international police force 'AND
SOUND AND HONEST IDEALS.
He's probably right and PRE
MATURE. That will be a long
time coming.
RECOGNIZING this, he offers
en intermediate remedy:
PRAY AND WRITE LETTERS.
AS to the first, here is a thought:
When people pray, they pray
FOR SOMETHING GOOD
never for something bad. When
you pray honestly, you are whol
ly sincere. If ENOUGH sincere
people pray honestly often
enough, -vast numbers of people
will be in a good mood and when
enough people are in a good mood
much good can be accomplished.
As to the second, writing let
ters gets people heard as individ
uals. If enough people can be ,
heard as individuals despotism i
will fall of its own weight. I
... i
IT was fine talk and did us all a '
lot of good. Everything he said
is true, but he scared me a little.
Here in America, we're begin-
ning to divide up INTO GROUPS.
Pressure groups, we're beginning
to call them. Business men, labor-1
ing men, farmers, pension-seek- j
ers and so on. They're all organ- j
ized. They have leaders. i
Slowly, almost Imperceptibly so '
.far, these groups are being taught i
by their leaders to look upon each i
other with fear, suspicion, even, !
in some cases, hate.
...
THIS Is the disturbing thought:
COULDN'T THAT BE THE
POSSIBLE BEGINNING OF i
BALKANITIS IN THE UNITED
STATES?
.
YOU remember the cloud on the
horizon that when first seen
was no larger than a man's hand.
This might be it.
I hope not, but It could be.
FIT a'Vwl
( V ' v 16 7
TO COURT IN WHEEL CHAIR Herbert J. Burgman, 53, con
victed of treason, is moved from a marshal's van (background)
in Washington to Federal District court in a wheel chair. Burg
man, former clerk in the American Embassy in Berlin, was accused
of treason in connection with wartime broadcasts over the Ger
man radio. (AP Wirephot).
Swank Dog Show
Held To Benefit
T-B Association
NEW YORK (JP) The swank
Hotel Pierre here opened its
doors to a dog show about the
doggiest dog show, in fact, that
anybody ever dreamed up.
Among those present:
A Welsh terrier wearing a coat
from Paris, with a little white
handkerchief peering from the
pocket.
A Boxer wearing a red raincoat
w'ith a hood, and waterproof
leather boots to match.
An Afghan (name of "Jitter
bug") wearing a green peaked
hat with a bird yes, a complete
bird on it, to say nothing of an
emerald green coat with a deep
fringe.
Some 250 women, mostly from
the social register, plunked down
$3.25 each for a bite of lunch and
a close-up view of these and as
sorted other canine specimens.
And Mrs. Olga Hone Rogers,
president of Dogs, Inc., and
chief-rounder-up of four -legged
fashion models for the occasion,
said their money was well spent.
"This," she said, "is easily the
greatest collection of champions
ever seen outside of a regular
dog show."
"Every dog is a champion. In
ternationally famous."
The show is for the benefit of
the New York Tuberculosis and
Health association.
Mrs. Rogers said, "Do the dogs
like it? Mister, they love ft! You
can just hear the lovely, dumb
things saying. 'Isn't this fun?
Look what they've put on me
now!"
Shirley Temple's Spouse
Doesn't Fight Divorce
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 (fl) '
Actor John Agar apparently will
not oppose the divorce action of
his wife, Shirley Temple. :
Superior Judge Clarence L.
Kincaid yesterday set Dec. 5 for
trial of the actress' divorce suit
on charges of cruelty. He order
ed the case set as a default hear
ing after he was informed that
Agar had not filed an answer '
within the legal 10-day limit.
Attorneys for the young couple,
married Sept. 19, 1945, have
reached a virtual agreement on
a settlement. They have a 21-month-old
daughter, Linda
Susan.
PHONE 100
between 6.15 and 7
p. m., if you have not
received . your News
Review. Ask Jor Harold Mot'ey.
oxed
Various Sizes Now Available
Remember Lack of "Protection"
means likelihood of "Loss."
Douglas County State Bank '
Member, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corp.
Playwright Saroyan's
Wife Obtains Divorce
LAS VEGAS. Nev..'Nov. 17
(.P) The wife of author -playwright
William Saroyan has ob
tained a divorce from him on a
cross-complaint charging mental
cruelty.
The former Carol Stuart Mar
cus had sued for divorce in Fres
no, Calif., and Saroyan sued here.
Under Nevada law she was en
titled to obtain the divorce with
out establishing residence, as the
writer had done.
The Saroyans. married In Day
ton, Ohio, in 1943. have signed
an agreement disposing of prop
erty and custody of their chil
dren. Aram, five, and Lucy,
three.
tration Is piling up even greater
deficits. President Truman in
sists ott higher taxes but has
made it apparent .that he will
approve greater expenditures re
gardless of whether rates are
increased and without considera
tion of the yield w hich they will
bring.
Voters will do well to gl
thought to the principle of dimi
nishing returns and to the likli-
hood that its results are present
ly oouna to be unpleasantly no
ticeable. As higher taxes brine
lower proportionate yields, the
slide will be under way. The
situation points the need for ad
ministrative cnange.
Custom Slaughtering
and Curing
Have your animal slaughtered and cut by us. We cut and
wrap each piece for your locker.
Park Slaughtered Tuesday
Beef and Veal Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Limit
ed to these dayt in accordance to the Brand Inspection
laws.
Beef, veal and pork for your locker at
wholesale prices.
All Locker Customers Requested to Bring
Their Own Key!
ROSEBURG MEAT CO.
FROZEN FOOD LOCKERS
624 Winchester phone 280
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL