St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-08
wELCoM!. GmNrLENtNN.

Gentlemen of the twenty-ninth SEES
session of the legislature the GLOBE
bids you welcome to the city and to your
tasks. We take it for granted :hat you,
all of you, Democrats, Republicans and
Populists, come here imbued with il
sincere desire to perform the duties lad
Oh YOU in the interests of all the people
of the state; aud, while we may differ as
TO what is for the general welfare-and
the line of thought as to the functions
of the state is broad one between Dem
ocrats on the one hand and Republicans
and PopuliStS on the other-it is one that
need not be often crossed, rs the greater
and more important questions with
which you Will be concerned do net
touch the boundary line. On these we
can meet on common ground, free from
partisanry, and concerned only i'll the
welfare OF our common common wealth.
Among these is one on which we can
practically all agree. the Improvement
OF the machinery of ascertainlng The
will Of the people on public matters.
Each recurring biennial election brings
with it its emphasis of the need OF law
which Will guard that neglected gate TO
the citadel, the primaries OF ali parties,
against the men who, in their anxiety to
secure nominations, are reckless OF the
means they use, and resort readily to
force or fraud to secure the vantage
ground The primary affords. The eX-
perence of other states makes it plain
that such methods can be devised and
enforced, and the results vlndlcate the
wisdom of the regulations.
Incident to this subject is the relief OF
the officers charged with conducting the
elections and making the returns.
While the new ballot law has afforded
the voter secrecy in making his choice
among tue candidates, it has entaiied on
the election officers more arduOuS and
time consuming tasks, Increasing the
labor. creating wholly needless delays
and fraught with chances for error and
opportunities for fraud. While ma
chnery has come TO the aid of every
other department of labor, the methods
of taking and counting the votes re-
main practically the same as when first
devised. There is no reason why the
genius of invention should not bring
relief from the labor of and greater
than human accuracy in this public
work, as it has in private fields. The
voting machine is all established fact,
standing the tests to which it has been
put and giving complete satisfaction.
A measure that would afford you and
your successors great relief from the
pressure of importunate associations
for class legislation in their favor, as
we'll as one which would enable you to
relieve yourselves Of the responsibility
of measures OF doubtful or untred and
experimental legislation, would be the
adoption of the referendum coupled
with the initiative. Another measure
that has had some attention from your
predecessors, but none OF that which
its great value and Importance de-
mand. is the simpliflcatiOn of our land
titles and transfers, now the constant,
and FOR the future an ever-increaSlng
source Of expense, annoyance, litigation
and loss.
But while the topics inviting action
by you come naturally to mind i'll con-
nection with your assembling, our pur-
pose was and is to bid you welcome,
and to assure you that the globe and
its family of readers will be glad to
note the progress of beneficial measures
during your sittings, ana to give them
whatever aid there may be in fair and
candid comment. We wish you, gem
tIemen, session that, when its record
is closed, may be honorable to your
selves and good for the state.