Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-01-10

ing that political parties through con-
ventions might be permitted to NOM
mate two or more candidates to be
placed upon the election ballot and to
allow the people to choose between
these nominations. The present sys-
tenn of permitting any citizen to de-
clare himself candidate for nominal
ton by the mere filing of a nomination
fee suggests a possibility Of having
totally unfit and unworthy man to be-
come the nominee of the political
party with which he affiliates. A sug-
gestion worthy of consideration is that
nomination for the primary election,
or the right of citizen to have his
name placed upon the ballot, should
be by petition only. The number of
petitioners should be sufficient to pre-
vent frivolous candidates., but not so
high as to bar worthy aspirants. There
are many who advocate the extension
of the primary election law so as to
include state officers. While this Is
correct in theory, and should ultimate
ly be accomplished, believe that it's
extension to- state officers should be
deferred until the law is corrected in
its application to it's present field of
operation.
Labor Legislation.
I desire to renew previous sug-
gestion to the legislature upon sub
ject which is of great interest to the
working people of the state and which
is generally described as the common
master to servant for injuries &C.
curing through the negligence Of a
fellow servant.
Whatever may have been proper as
to this common law doctrine in the
past the present law is certainly not
suited to the present time, when high
geared and dangerous machinery per-
forms such large part in the produc-
ton of manufactured articles and in
the construction of buildings.
Your intention is invited to the sue.
cess that has attended the opening Of
free public labor employment agency
under the auspices of the state labor
department and to the wisdom of an
expansion Of such free employment
agencies.
In connection with the subject of
labor legislation I also wish to sub
nit to you the desirability Of increas'
ing the number Of labor inspectors,
not only for inspection of shops and
factories, but for prevention of child
| labor and enforcement of the truancy
laws, to the end that there may be an
Inspector in each of the nine congress
! sional districts of the state.
Governor Johnson here devotes con-
| siderable space to the various state
| departments and to the subjects OF
| good roads, drainage and forestry and
| suggests what he believes would be
improvements in existing laws. He
also recommends the adoption Of a
| uniform divorce law and calls atten'
| ton to the merits Of the advisory
initiative and referendum.
Public Ownership.
Public ownership of public utilities
| is fast becoming an accomplished fact
in many of the cities and villages OF
the state. If a city, village or town
desires to conduct it's public utilities
by and for the public, after having sc
| decided by a majority vote, there can
be no objection to allowing the munic
| ipality to raise the money necessary
| to purchase and operate in any way II
| sees fit. Under our present laws it Is
permitted to bond all the property Of
the community for this purpose. If
on the other hand, it can find persons
who are willing to loan the money
upon the property of the public utility
desired to operate, pledging only the
property of the public utility loaned
on, there can be no objection on the
part of owners of other and genera
property. This plan would remove the
objection sometimes urged against mu
nicipal ownership, that it Injuries the
credit of a city or village and that i
Is not fair to tax non-users OF these
utilities for the benefit of the users
This expression Of an advanced public
opinion is found in our neighbour.
state Of Illinois in the enactment o
1 the so-called Mueller law, which hal
been sustained in the courts, and ap
| plies in that state to the acquisition
by municipalities Of street railwa,
properties. The idea is just and col
rect and its enactment in this stat
would undoubtedly have the effect Q
regulating in no small measure on
privately owned public Utilities, il no
IN acquiring them for the public use.