University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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roi , :THE OREGANA EZ? NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTY THREE Campaign Against Zorn-Macpherson Bill Highlight of Alumni Association ITTLF. time was lost in preparing machinery for the school fight that threatened. Interested Eugene alumni and citizens raised additional funds to carry on the new activity that lay on the shoulders of those directing alumni affairs. As it became increasingly apparent that the backers of the Zorn-Macpherson measure were going to be successful in securing the re- quired number of names for their initiative bill, the plans of the active alumni governing bodies were turned into action. Robert K. Allen, '32, was employed to handle the publicity and disseminate information concerning the false claims of the backers of the bill. Arthur S. Potwin, also of the class of 1932, was secured to organize and carry on work among the University students and prepare them for active campaigning during the summer months when they would be living at their homes in various sections of the state. Coincident with the preparations being made in the alumni office, the groundwork was being laid for a state-wide organization to handle the campaign for the state at large and to carry on activities not delegated to the alumni and student groups. The result was the for- mation of the School Tax Saving Association. Amadee M. Smith, prominent Portland busi- ness man, was chosen as the president of this organization. As general campaign manager, F. H. Young, a University graduate of the class of 1914, was named. Branches of this organization were established at Monmouth, Ashland and La Grande, where taxpayers in those normal school communities saw in the proposed bill a threat directed at the normal schools as well as at the state University. Eugene, likewise, organized and sup- ported a branch of the School Tax Saving Association, with Frank B. Reid, '28, in charge. To tell the story of the ensuing campaign would be like attempting to tell of the rise and fall of the Roman empire in the brief space allotted here. The implications and intrigues that should be woven into the complete fabrication of the story are details that could not be accurately reported or interpreted. Soon after the initiative petitions were filed with the secretary of state at Salem, Mr. Brown set about marshalling the active support and participation of the alumni. His travels took him, during the course of the summer, to every major community in the state and into every county. The alumni response was instantaneous and whole-hearted. Wherever four or five alumni lived within meeting distance conferences were held and local campaigns mapped out. A steady stream of mail poured into the alumni office, offering help and suggestions. The fundamental weakness of the bill soon became obvious to thousands of voters and tax- payers and newspaper editors. The storm of protest against a measure which lacked the foundation of good educational theory as this one was growing, and although the forces working against the bill seemed too strong to assure its success, the workers continued right up to November 8, election day, to campaign actively against the measure. One of the important factors in the overwhelming defeat that was dealt to the bill on November 8 was the almost unanimous condemnation of the bill on the part of newspapers throughout the state. From the alumni office and the oihces of the School Tax Saving Asso- ciation in Portland, the editors of the state were kept in touch with the developments of the campaign and information bearing on the bill itself. 19

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- 2503 THE OREGA NA '83 NINEYFEN HUNDRED THIRTY THREE Alumni Reorganize The hectic year, 1952-33, memorable for budget slashes, the de- feat of the Zorn-Mao pherson bill, salary re- ductions and the like, wreaked its full spoils in the offices of the Univer- sity of Oregon Alumni Association. A reorganization of the association, bringing with it a new secretary, a new policy, and the abandonment of Old Oregon as the alumni publication took place early in April. The new secretary was Alexander G. Brown, '22, who came to the campus from Portland, where he had been em- ployed in newspaper work. He took the place of Jeanette Calkins, '18, who resigned. Brown was appointed by the alumni council, composed of the officers of the alumni association. His appointment was effective immediately, while Miss Calkins was asked to stay on and complete the issuance of the May issue of Old Ore- gon, work on which had already been started. Miss Margaret Boyer, '26, assistant secretary under Miss Calkins, resigned also, effective the first of May. The new policy which was instituted with Mr. Brown's acceptance of the position was one of personal contact with the alumni of the state, and extensive trips were planned by him to all parts of the state where he was to meet personally with alumni and alumni groups. In the place of Old Oregon, it was decided to use one issue each week of the Oregon Daily Emerald, a special page of which was offered to the association to carry alumni news and in- formation. Hardly had Mr. Brown taken office before the first rumblings of the impending attack on higher education and the University in the form of the Zorn-Macpherson initiative school moving bill were heard. The provisions of the bill itself were such a direct attack at the very life of the University, that it immediately became obvious that the great body of alumni, re- siding in all parts of the state, would be needed as an active organization in the fight against the school moving bill. ROBERT ALLEN 18

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