Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-01-21

adequate plan for identifying the
voters
4th. 1t should provide several penal
ties for fraud, intimidation and brib-
cry.
The greatest objection which have
found in studying the measures adopt
ed by other states, and the subject
generally, has been that the complete
primary election system, plurality,
instead of majority, will nominate.
regard This ss Il weakness, because
1t prevents In son Instances he
vW"~'i, VI = ss,on choice which is
oftentimes OF great valde.
1t seems to me, therefore,, that the
delegate convention ought to be pre-
served and that the law should ar
range for the selection of delegates.
II any candidate, whether for city
coSlEY, stata. on congressional office,
receives a majority OF the votes cast,
IN the territory which fills the Office
the delegates chosen would have no
other duty but to record the decision
of the voters. If, however, no candi-
date receives a majority Of the votes
cast by his party. then the delegates
chosen with the instructions given
them by the vote, should work out
In the convention their second choice.
These suggestions are intended as
a mere outline of the views I have
formed In looking over the matter,
and I lay them before you, not SO
much as a recommendation for any
particular law, as way of indicating
to you my conviction that some ade-
quate legislation Is necessary.
Coed Roads.
There Is nothing which Iowa needs,
which she has not. more than good
roads. 1t Is unnecessary to enlarge
Is recognized by every thoughtful
man. Can the need be supplied? I
believe 1t can be. 1t will require years
to accomplish the purpose; but we
ought to begin now. We should adopt
q permanent plan and work upon. 1t
so that what Is done one year will
not be lost the next. submit my
opinion with difiidence to men of your
wide experience and observation; but
as have thought much upon 1t, will
give you my conclusions:
The roads to be improved should
be first surveyed to ascertain the
grade, easiest method of drainage, the
character of the soil, and all other
conditions which are essential to be
known. The plan OF improvement
should then be made. So much of the
work should be done by the state,
and II committed to the engineering
department of the University and the
Agricultural College, 1t could be done
without great expense.
When the plan for any county Is
complete, 1t should be presented to
the board of supervisors, and If found
satisfactory adopted.
Thereafter the work done on any
road embraced In the plan should pro-
coed accordingly. In this way we
can gradually secure good roads. We
must go forward slowly, to avoid the
burden of increased taxation. but let
us at least go forward. l am thor
oughly convinced that there is no in
vestmert that will yield the peopls
a larger return than the money intel
ligently spent in the bettermelt CT
highways.
TIE Census Of 1905.
Section 80 of Article 3 of the con-
stitution requires the general assem-.
bly, to cause, IAN enumeration to be
made of all the Inhabitants of the
state" in 1905. Section I'll of the
Code of 1897 repealed former regula.
tions respecting the taking of census,
and limits the work to the ascertain
ment of the number OF males, fe-
| males, persons entitled to vote, and
| the number of the militia. II Is OBJ
vious that il no further authority be
given, the census Of 1905 Will be OF
very little importance.
In modern times the collection of
information, and the gathering Of sta
! form of a census report, has not on
ly become a well recognized function
of the government, but a necessity
for the guidance OF society. The
census to be taken next year should
be a complete compendium of all the
knowledge that the most modern view
demands fer such work.
l therefore recommend that the
statute be so amended AMI that such
al appropriation be made aS will en-
able the proper officers to issue
census report, adquate In its scope
and complete in its detail.
In this connection | also recon-
mend that the commissioner Of thu
Bureau of Labor Statistics be author
ICED to cooperate with the Nationa
Census Department in certain matter
relating to manufacturers, the full
- .
communications from the Department
at Washington, copies OF which will
be laid before you.
Educational Institutions.
BY virtue of my office l have beer
during the past two years, men
Der of the Board Of Regents of tn
: State University and Of the Board G
Trustees of the Iowa State College O
Agriculture end Mechanic Arts.
have faithfully attempted to becom
familiar with the work of these II
> stitutions, and believe I know thei
needs.
! With respect to the Iowa State No
NAL School, I have no such intimat
3 knowledge, and therefore submit tn
report of its Board without con
; ment, save to express my belief ths
: its financial affairs have been honest!
, and wisely managed. and the schot
/ conducted by a master mind.
5 With respect to the State Unive
l. sity and the Iowa State College {
J. Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
o know that the appropriations mad
for them have been expended wit
g a painstaking economy and a siren,
l. GUS effort to make them cover tn
t wants which they will not cover, til
g like of which have rarely seen.
l. have advised both these Boards to la