The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-12
GOV. T00LE'S MESSAGE
TO The LEGISLATURE
Covers the Progress the State During the Past
Needed Legislation in Many Lines--.Drec
Vote For Senator

or paying him cash or by check, and
allowing the employe to buy where he
pleases. A violation of the company's
rules in this respect it is said, results
in the employees discharge.
This system is inherently wrong,
destroys competition, affords facilities
for many impositions upon the de-
|fenseless, and demoralizes and en-
slaves the Individual who is oblge |
to submit to such tyranny and op-
preston.
1T was an issue in the late cleo
tons, in this state, and the decision
rendered at the polls makes it in
cumbent upon the majority to see
to it that such legislation is passed
as will effectually relieve that class
of our fellow-citizens who, by reason
Of their immediate necessity and en-
vironment, cannot protect themselves
against the encroachment upon nat
ural rights.
ELECTION OF SENATORS.
AS part Of your duties you are
called upon to elect two United States
senators, one to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of the Hon.
William A. Clark, and one to succeed
the Hon. Thomas II. Carter, whose
term expires on March 4, 1901.
In this connection | deem it prop
er to say that the trend of public
opinion, as | understand it. is strong
ly in favor of the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people, especially in Montana, and
may add that there is similar senti-
ment. though not SO pronounced, in
favor of direct legislation, national
and state, wherever practicable. l am
confident that such Il change in fundaA
mental law as Will authorize a direct
vote of the people upon the election
of senators, would be welcomed by the
people of thiss tateas precious relief
from the unseemly methods which,
whether exaggerated or not. have
brought many of the states of the
union into unenviable notoriety.
The arguments which have been
urged against allowing the people to
elect their senators might be urged
with the same force against allowing
them to elect their members of con-
gress. All such arguments are
founded not upon convenience Or
economy, not upon the necessity or
delegatng power, but upon the as
sumption that the people are ignorant
or tickle, if not corrupt, an assump-
ton difficult to prove, perhaps, to the
satisfaction Of the people themselves.
But if the assumption were true, how
do we remedy the difficulty by permit
ting them to do through another, what
we forbid them to do by themselves?
"Manifestly the truth is, if the peo-
pie are fit, to delegate power they are
fit to exercise power. 1t does not
meet the argument to say that we are
'''N ''''t' wv iNSIoidtlNc ASSEMBLY,
would always be composed of men of
infleXable integrity, of the most disin-
terested patriotism, of the most varied
intelligence and profoundest wisdom,
such as some of our Legislative assem-
blies have been.
III all these conditions existed, the
objections to the present system
would be equally strong. 1t is the
system which is Objectionable: a sys-
TEN which attempts to mingle and fuse
together the disagreeing clements of
a democracy and monarchy.
1T Is we'll known, too. that when
ever a senator is to be elected all
legislation is usually deferred and
generally subordinated to such cleo
ton resulting not infrequently to the
failure of important measures ana
the nasty consideration of others. But
IN addition to these objections. fac.
tonal virulonce and partisan preiu-
olce often combine to bring about
deadlocks which operate to deprive
the state of its Just representation in
the councils of the nation, IA condi-
ton from which we have suffered AMI
which could not exist II senators were
elected by direct vote of the 1eoplc
1 recommend that suitable and
proper action be taken to give legis-
iatlve expression upon this question.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1872.
The merits of what is commonly
known as House Bill No. 1872 have
been generally discussed by the press
OF the state and its main objects So
Verely criticised 1t received y inst
excorlation at the hands of NV i'm.
mediate predecessor in Office in his
veto message, but in spite of all opp,-
sltion 1t became law of the state u
nave no hesitancy in saying that it dc.
serves legislative condemnation. All
laws SnDulI no