Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-09
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF
GOV. CHARLES s. DENEEN
Refers to Need Of Primary Law, lmperfections of
Practice Act and Discusses the Good
Roads Movement

Charles -. Deneen. delivered 10 the
FortyFourth general assembly OF ILL
Dois. Is as follows:
The constitution provides that the
governor Of the state shall at the COM
mencement OF each session AMI ut the
cioee Of his term OF Office. give 10 the
general assembly information by mes
sage OF the coalition OF the state and
ohall recommend such measures as he
aoem expedient- In compliance with
this mandate Governor Yates has sub
United TO you an able message showing
the prosperous condition Of the state.
II has also been the custom for the
incoming governor TO deliver at his in
auguration an address suggesting such
policies Of Legislation as he deemed ex-
bedient. In Observance Of this I'M
broken custom. / submit the follow
ing:
Primary Law
Our state needs n compulsory pri-
mary law. In bet four Of our counties
IN there such n law. In the other
nInety-eIght counties, the rules for con-
Quoting primaries are made by the COM
III Iue-Sf. INV UdNe
unlimited power-the power OF legis-
ntion. the power Of administration
and the power OF adjudication. In par
~ matters. In ninety eight counties
OF our state. the committees may call
the conventions when they choose.
determine where the primaries shall
be beld-whether one for each county
or one for each township therein: may
prescribe the method Of conducting the
primaries voice. 10y display Of
hands or by ballot: may select officers
OF the prima ries. define the qualifica-
tfons Of voters. appoint judges and
clerks. challengers and watchers. and
may deny To unfriendly factions the
fight Of challengers and watchers in
the polling places In Einety-eight
counties Of our state. II Is no crime
either To buy or sell votes ut such
primaries: nor is IL n crime for mem
berS OF political parties or residents
% other counties or states 70 vote at
such primaries. II is no crime for a
voter TO east more than one ballot. or
for the judges to receive more than
one ballot from the same person az
such prima ries: nor Is II a crime for
the Judges and clerks 70 make false
returns OF the vote east.
Double Convention.
Out of these evils has arisen another
evil. that OF the double convention.
Such Is the lack Of confidence in the
conduct Of our primaries that. in
warmly contested primary elections,
each faction holds its own convention.
in the hope that the committee on
credentials I'm the higher convention
will recognize its claims.
Because OF this chaotic condition of
our primary system, there has grown
up In the state very general demand.
regardless OF party. for a compulsory
election law. and I believe such a law
should be enacted. embodying. at least,
these features:
Provisions requiring each political
party TO hold its primaries I'm every
county and township I'm the state on
the same day; that the day and hours
shall be fixed I'm the statutes; that
judges and clerks therefor shall be ap-
pointed by the Judge OF the county
court: that the names Of all candidates
for Offices shall be printed on the bal
lot. with squares I'm front Of each, thus
giving to the voter an opportunity TO
designate his choice. In short that
primaries shall be held under the safe
guards which surround regular cleo |
tons.
Because OF the great public interest
in fair primaries. I recommend that APP |
committees be appointed as
early rs n wise selection can be made. |
and that frequent public hearings be
had. to the end that Q practical and
usable law may be enacted, which viii
AFFORD the fullest opportunity for the /
expression OF the popular will in the
selection Of candidates by political par
tea
CtyH Service.
Our state supports many institutions 4
Tor the care OF the insane. the feeble
minded and the criminal classes. Sew
eral hundred people are employed In /
capacities I'm these institutions
Their tenure OF Office Is now at the
mercy Of factions and OF parties. The
duties of many OF these employees re
qutre peculiar taste. education and ex.
perience- There - a very general de-
mn nd that the tenure OF Office OF such
persons shall be- free from the acct
dents o. factional and party triuniphs.
The employees OF the state should IL
TO acquire skill. education
and experience In the line Of their du
ties. and they should be gwen the a
surance that they will remain in its
while their services are
encient. regardless OF party vicissi-
ludes.
Civil service laws are NJ longer
looked upon as experiments. They ART
ID successful operation In most Of thu
European governments and In many of
our states Our national civil service
aw has the approval OF the people
throughout the country. Both the
great political parties in this state
favored n civil service law in their
|ost platforms The time. therefore,
FOR DISCUSSION has passed: the time fof