Governor of Oregon
In 1910, he gained the Democratic nomination for Governor and went on to defeat his opponent, Jay Bowerman, and take office in 1911. While in office, West defended what he called the Oregon System which included initiative and referendum systems still in use in many western American states today. Through these processes women's suffrage, various workers rights laws and most infamously prohibition all came into effect during West's administration.
West established Oregon's beach highway law, proclaiming the entire Pacific coastline — today's Highway 101 — to be a public highway, thereby preserving scenery for future generations. The law protecting public access to the high-water line remains in effect on Oregon beaches, which were formally protected by Governor Tom McCall in 1967.
West is also credited with establishing Oregon's highway system, when in 1913 the Oregon HIghway Commission was created by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, levying a tax upon all property to fund the establishment of a state roadway system. The tax raised $700,000 during its first year, money which was targeted to the development of three major road routes — the Coast Highway (Highway 101), the Pacific Highway from Portland through the Willamette Valley, and the Columbia River Highway connecting Portland with Eastern Oregon.
He addressed a national convention of governors in New Jersey in 1911, on the topic of prison labor.
Read more about this topic: Oswald West
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