Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-14
his Judgment, he snau deem II expeui-
ent to communicate with the general
assembly, by proper message.
Might Pursue a Mixtakan Cour.e

Many or my predecessors have when
about to come into office, found such
a condition of affairs, that they have
deemed it best to, in their inaugural
addresses, both convey information
and recommend legislation. They
were, of course, justified in so doing.
For myself, however. believing as l
do, that the constitution does not re-
Iquire specific recommendations from
a new governor, before he has, by ex-
Iperience, acquired Information and
learned what measures ought to be
recommended, / feel compelled to say
that at this time my knowledge of
state affairs is SO limited, that it
would be discourteous TO attempt to
Iconvey that limited knowledge to the
Legislature. And, as TO recommends
tions, have had SO little opportunity
to weigh the merits of the great num-
ber of measures which have been sug-
gested. that L feel that 1 might be pur-
suing mistaken course, were | now
TO indulge in recommendation of any
OF them. III at any time, within the
session, l shall become satisfied that
it is my duty to recommend to the
general assembly any particular sub
| ject, for consideration, l shall not hes
II CONSTITUTIONAL
negatives of the executive. in that par
| ticular. feeling we'll assured that the
general assembly will appreciate my
| motives in then communicating with
| them, as doubtless they do now an
preciate my present action in refrain
| ing from so doing.
An Important Occasion.
The fact that have no suggestions
to make TO you, the general assembly.
with reference to measures to come
before you, at this session. does NOT
debar me from endeavoring to briefly
give expression to some of the feel
ings which follow us TO this place.
This occasion is of import to us all
Its significance is not to be behttled
1t is not merely an hour of pardona-
bic pleasure and pride to the six of
us who have assumed the responsibility
of officials OF the state at large. To
every member of the state senate and
house ii is also a moment of conse-
quence. Although days have passed
since you,- in both your houses, per-
fect6d your organization and ar
ranged preliminary details. you have
scarcely, as yet, settled into your re-
spectiye places, and this hour begins.
IN fact. your active service 1t is an
proprfiate that, while You are paus-
ing. so TO speak, before entering upon
the performance of Your active duties.
the state, too, should pause, and. with
due satisfaction, reflect that here. at
It's capitol, there sit. as its senators
aud representatives, this body of far.
sighted, clear-headed and high-nnnded~
men. 1t is quite certain thar this gen.
erai assembly cannot suffer by com
parison. Illinois has just cause to feel
proud of its legislatures. and to rely
upon the fidelity of that legislature.
Difficulties and PerpIexiffes.
/ need not exliort you to wear your !
honors worthily. But 1 may be per-
mitted to remind you that to do so is
no easy matter. The difficulties and
nerplexities continually confronting
the legislator are not generally appre-
ciated. They are necessarily many
and great. More than that, they are
complex and intricate. They involve
exhaustive attention Many times.
state legislators get little credit for
their fabors, which are really arduous.
In the performance of their duties,
the line between the right and the
wrong is often somewhat obscured
and hard to find. There will doubt
less be many times. in trying days to
come, when you and 1 both will seek
for time, at least, almost in vain,
for absolutely satisfactory solution of
pending problems Good intentions
guidance. So many different factors
may affect any given situation, that
the result will, if we are not very care
fuI, be far from either desirable to
us, or advantageous TO the people
and this in spite of all lofty motive
and high incentive and sincere desire
to do right. Such being the case, it
is certainly ground for congratulation
that. in the present general assembly,
11v oil m
that lofty motive and that high incen-
tive which the people so much desire.
No Power to Rectify Errors.
We all realize that there is, for the
time being. no power to rectify our
errors. il we make them. There is no
immediate help for the state. il, from
your hands and mine, there comes. dur
ing the ensuing two years. fabric
of legisla ton which is defective in
construction and detrimental In effect.
1t behooves us all. therefore, to. in all
that we do, move and act with wise
and just instincts. We should consid-
er well, before we disturb well settled
conditions, which are satisfactory. L
am satisfied that such is the wish or
the people. There is a widespread
feeling, i'm all states, that there may be
too much government and too many
laws. / participate in this feeling. my
Sell. anu 50 uO VI yOu. AhdCCNr
it is, in part, because of this feeling.
that j have decided not to make any
recommendations to You concerning
legislation. There doubtless never was
a law so good but that it might be bet
tered by amendment. There, doubt
less, are many of our laws which could
be improved. There are, perhaps, some
which ought to be abolished. There
probably are some which ought to be
abolished, provided other better ones
could be put in their places. And,
lastly, there are, probably, some en-
tirely new, which ought to be passed.
As matter of course, proper appro-
priafion bills and an equitable reap
portionment are absolutely essential
No Plans for Legislation.
There does not. however, seem to me
to be any pressing necessity or demand
for a large quantity of new legisia-
ton. No hidden significance attaches