The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-01-06

individual candidates for nomination
by some political party other than
their own.
Guard Against Corruption.
Corruption at prm1rics Or ~ cleo.
tons should be guarded against In
every possible way. The question as
to whether the expenditure Of money
by candidates for nomination to office
and OF candidates for eelction should
be limited In amount, is an important
one and should receive your most care.
ful consideration. The man OF mod.
erate means ought not to be put al
a disadvantage i'm a contest for nomi.
nation or election with man OF great
wealth.
Legislation should he had that will
permit the people Of such localities
as favor change in present methods
Of selecting party delegates and party
candidates to make such changes as
they deem desirable and best.
In this connection | desire to quote
the language Of the declarations upon
which we went TO the people at the
last election:
"We favor a general primary cleo
ton law that will enable every mu-
nicipal and political district in the
state TO decide for itself the method
by which ii shall nominate its candi-
dates for public office, and delegates
to the state convention"
I'VE believe that the selection of
candidates for public office should be
protected from improper control and
faint of corruption and should be so
conducted as the judgment and will of
the people in their respective counties
and election districts may demand and
direct"
I'VE further believe ii wise and de.
sirable that all caucusses and pri.
maries relating TO the selection Of dele
gates TO state conventions should be
held upon the same day. and recon-
mend to the incoming legislature the
adoption of such n law. with proper
details for its satisfactory enforce
ment"
Not an EASY Task.
Experience in three Of the counties will
be of service to you In the prepare
ton of bill to put these party
declarations into effect The expert
ence of other states that have had
primary laws in force and operation
will also aid you Whern evil exists.
IL should he remed'ed and new evils
guarded against. The people of Mich.
gan are entitled 30 and should be given.
not the most radical or s. treme, but
the very lest w on this subject that
your wisdom can devise.
Continuous trouble, much expensive
litigation. and er AZ in Justice to the
interests of the people f this state are
occasioned by carelessly drawn legis-
lativc cnactwpnts Fvery roSSihle eff
fort should be made to guard against
the defects Of careless construction Of
bills. There should q no shadow Of
doubt as to the exact meaning of every
law Won enact. Every PROVISION should
be perfectly plain nd clear and in
every inst nee the con>t tutionality of
contemplated legislation should be
carefully scruti i ell. In this cOnnec-
ton | would impress upo" YOU pv
firm conviction that tn" tendency Of
nearly all legislative ode is towards
too much. rather than % little. legis-
lation 1t is the quality rather than
the quantity of your wo X by which
you will be judged. \ short. active.
buSiness-liSP session is greatly. and |
believe justly, desired by your con-
stituents.
Responsibility l. Great.
Senators and representatives. the
welfare of the State of Michigan is
largely in your hands. The RESPONSE
bility is great. You have been selected
by the people to deal with the prob
lens which are now confronting you.
The people will rightfully pass judg-
ment upon the acts Of both the execu-
tive and legislative departments. We
could not shirk this responsibility if
we would. and we would not shirk il
II we could. Our only just claim on
the people of this state is that their
final judgment shall be reserved until
we have completed the tasks which
:hey have given us to perform.
Respectfully submitted.
FRED. NJ. WARNER.
Governor