The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06

>Al parties, and assume
~ the duties OF the high
office to which have
GOVERNOR boIEs been called conscious
that the people u my State have right to ex.
pect ut my hands an administration OF their af-
fairs As broad and rs liberal as the spirit they
have manifested toward me.
Profoundly grateful as am for the honor SO
bestowed, / will have greater reason
still for gratitude II at the end of my term can
ieel that no act OF mine has weakened the faith
Or betrayed the confidence OF those who have
trusted me. As accept from their hands the
symbol Of power. and assume the duties u
brings. deyoutly pray for wisdom which shall
enable me TO so perform the great work to which
am called that no hour Of my life will be
panied with the reflection that / have proved
unequal to or unworthy Of the task assigned
"The Legislature will have for its aid the
message OF our retiring Governor. whose long
and faithful service in the office he has SO high
" honored and whose thorough familiarity with
the wants OF the State will entitlc his sug
gestions to most careful consideration and re-
lieve me from obligation to discuss many Of the
ne mas So apy
State Is necessarily coordinate branch
Of the law-making power. ! will be
permitted to suggest that 1t is more
II Is that they be numerous. 1t is In the
Judgment OF many, misfortune rather than a
blessing that we have 50 many statutory regu
ascribed 10 such enactments and too little to
those unwritten laws which, having their
source In the very fountains Of natural right,
pervade all countries and In many instances
define better than statutes can do the obliga-
tions and privileges Of men.
Il do not wish TO suggest that the duties Of
legislators are light. No greater responsibility
Is imposed upon man. Upon their wisdom
sagacity and sense o. justice depends the vel,
fare of those for whom they lcgislate. II they
act wisely they may build for themselves a mon
ument OF fame crowned with the dressings Of
those they serve. II they fail they must walk
In the shadows Of the misfortune their own
hands have wrought.
BALLOT REFORM.
important public questions agitatc our peo-
pie: some are of local application. others in
vOlye the Nation of which We are n part.
Among these is the question Of ballot reform.
The safety OF republic necessarily depends
upon the intelligence Of its electors and faith
ful discharge by them OF their duties at the
polls. Ignorance as well as corruption is in
compatible with stability in government
that derives its powers from the people. II any
danger threatens the perpctnity Of this Gov
ernment 1t lies in the fact that, ignoring the
question Of intelligence. the elective fran
chise has been extended beyond the
limits OF reasonable safety. Our own constitu-
ton axcs the distinction between those who
are not entitled to this privilege ut the point
where the lowest order Of rational intelligence
In male citizens, twenty.one years OF age,
touches the boundary line Of helpless idiocy or
masses nre as intelligent as the people Of Iowa,
even this libcrality is not beset with imminent
danger. but 1t forces upon thoughtful minds the
necessity for unceasing care IN guarding the
hand the destiny o! our State.
"ThcNduty OF the e,ector Is plain; by the most
sacred Of human obligations he is bound "a
Is a member the weight OF his unbiased intelli.
eence upon every political issue his vote helps
to determine. And yet In countless ways the
State is deprived OF that which SO justly be
longs to II. Men 90 TO the polls and deposit
their votes In blind obedience TO party ties they
will not sunder. The empty name Of polit
icai organization is too often the embodi
It. unmindful Of constantly changing
issues which demand impartial consideration
Self-conStituted overseerS pursue those who
stop TO consult their conscience or exercise
their reason in the discharge Of one Of the
most important OF duties. The strong over
come the weak. employers too often contro
employees. the rich direct the poor and all ol
these rob the Nation and the State OF that upor
which their safety depends deliberate
judgment Of many OF those who exercise the
almost sacred privilege Of elective franchise.
IF we could stop here In the enumeration o.
dangers which now from . faithleSS ballot, the
situation would not call so loudly for safeguard.
around the polls. II Is ahnmilating fact and ye1
one that II Is criminal negligence to ignore, thai
some men are corrupt enough to buy. and 9th
crs base enough to sell. the noblest brthrigh
OF an American citizen. No duty Is more plaiI
than that which demands Of the legislative de
rartmcnt OF every government the enactment
Of laws which shall to the utmost lim
Of utility surround the ballot box with safe
guards that will Danish from all elections tn,
corrupt use of money and secure to the Stat,
the unbiased judgment OF each elector. Thi
can, AS I believe. be most effectualy accom-
pliShed through statutes which compel the de
rosit OF u secret ballot, the contents OF whicl
can never be made known except by him VIII,
deposits II. and then without evidence to cor
roborate his statement. Such laws put 1t be
yond the power OF others to criticize the elect
Or's ballot who desires TO keep II secret. ant
to rely upon the uncorroborated word Of mel
base enough to sell their votes.
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
"Great interest naturally attaches to the sub
ject OF rates for railway transp CITATION. In tn
present depressed condition nf prices it !
n1sural that those whose pecuniary interest
are affected thereby should demand that thes,
be fixed ut the lowest possible point attainabl
without actual injustice to the carrier.
the purchaser Of transportation was at tn,
mercy Of railway companies. Their un
controlled will. however arbitrarily ex
there was no appeal and for which there wa
no redress Their managers were mOrtals
only. They abused their power. as nearly al
men do whose pecuniary interests control thei
fed with remunerativs dividends upon tn
money actually invested In the great enter
prises over which they presided. but the,
wa,ered the stock Of their corporations, sol,
undertook to conduct business on basis tina
would return dividends on these imaginary In
vestments. To accomplish this individual an
public rights alike were often sacrificed. Od
GUS discrimination was repeatedly practiced
Towns and cities In one part OF the State wer
favored NJ the expense Of those in other local.
ties, wherever this would operate to the advau
tage Of the railway companies
''The situation compelled submission to exist
ing evils or the adoption of system which woul
practically reverse former conditions, and pu
should be transacted with these companies int
the hands Of officers selected by the public.
was dangerous power that railway manager
WELDED when they controlled the situation an
might easily become y dangerous power tn
people have assumed, and cure should he take
that no man can justly charge that they has
TT is no wrong to the railway interests Of thi
State that our people desire. They only ds
mand that their own interests shall be fairl
the railroads We are indebted for the wonderfl
development of our State. or fails to realize tina
any cause which should cripple them woul
necessarily react upon great business interest.
the wants OF which they alone ca
supply. We would never be satisfied wit
any thing less than the most efficient of raj
way service: this can be furnished by non
but first, class roads; substantially built, tho
employees. Upon the perfection OF these road
and their equipment and the skill and care {
those who operate them more than money d.
pends. The lives Of multitude Of passenger
are constantly conflded to their keeping. A
army OF employees braves the dangers OF o bus
ness always hazardous and doubly SO on II
ferior roads.
euaras against accidents on railways II Is
terrible charge often made, that the danger
iife and limb In . business upon which our con