Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-17
State Solons at Des Moines
Bowed to Wishes of
Constituents.
new LAWS ON STATUTE BOOK
Reform Measures Passed by the
Thirty.Second General As.
sembly ofIowa.
Review of Work of Law Makers and
Provisions of the Most Import.
ant Measures Enacted
into Law.

.SsSS
The session Of the Thirty-Second
General Assembly of Iowa which has
just come to close has made history
which will be cited by citizens of the
Hawkeye state for many yeais to
come. In all the history of the COM
monwealth there has never assembled
a legislature imbued with such force
full purposes as inspired the members
Of the body which has now completed
its work, and who have come back to
their homes to receive the commenda-
ton or the criticism of their con-
stituents.
1t can be truthfully said that much
Of the legislation which has been en-
acted into law by this assembly has
come more directly from the people
than has ever before been the case.
In fact the acts of the legislators,
who have been at the capitol the past
three months, have thoroughly demon
strated that the government of Iowa
is close to its people and that they
have conducted the real law making
from their homes in the cities, from
the manufacturing centers and from
the farms of the state.
Demands for Reforms.
That this statement is true, and not
overdrawn, can be easily verified by a
glance at the laws which have now
been put upon the statutes of the COM
monwealth. First there was the de.
mand for reform In the matter of
nominating candidates for public Of
fee. Then there was the demand that
the railroads and corporations of the
state be made to deal more equally
with the people, that the railroads and
corporations generally be eliminated as
forceful factors in politics, that re.
duction be granted in the matter of
railroad transportation and that there
must be closer accounting between
the people of the. state and their serv-
ants, the officeholders.
These demands in one form or an
other had found expression to con-
siderable extent in Iowa for many
years, but during the past five years
sentiment had crystallized along the
lines mentioned and last year there
was n new awakening of the people.
To this awakening is due the fact that
Iowa today has placed on its books
the following: A statewide primary
election law: two-cent passenger
fare law; new anti-pass law; non
political corporation law; bill limit
ing campaign expenses; n pardon
board and reformatory law; a drastic
anti-stock watering law: reformatory
insurance laws.
And one of the strange things con-
nected with all this legislation is that
1t was enacted in several instances by
men who in their own inner COLI
sciences were not in sympathy with
the bills for which they gave their
votes. This is true of the primary
election bill. 1t has been confidently
stated that not twenty-five of the 15S
members of the house and senate We're
really in favor of the law rs it stands
today; that many of those who voted
for it We're personally opposed to all
Legislation along that line. They gave
1t their votes, saying "my people want
me to do this. and am following in.
structions. but know they will re-
greet the action and will be Just as
anxious to have the law repealed two
years from now as they are to place
1t in the code today"
Voted Against Their Convictions.
1t is also true of the two-cent fare
bill. Many of the members who voted
aye OH this measure did SO against
their own convictions of what was
justly due between the people and the
railroads. But they possessed be-
yond their regard for the roads the
politicians keen sense of knowing
what the voters he is representing are
talking about in their homes and, at
their meeting halls, and with the
politicians desire to be praised rather
than condemned when he makes re-
port to his constituents, they turned
aside their own convictions.
The new anti-pass law, made more
drastic than any member of the assem-
bly, dreamed it would be made, is an
other evidence of the statewide senti-
ment created against the railroads by
the campaigns Of the past five years.
and coupled with the other measures
of n regulative character against the
roads, shows the fever to which the
people have been worked in these mat
tiers.
On the whole work of the session
there will be a difference of opinion,
but 1t is more than likely the acts of
the legislators will be praised rather
than criticised and that the result of
its deliberations will be beneficial ana
wholesome.
Election Legislation.
From the standpoint Of importance
the work Of the assembly will be
measured from the primary election
law. This law, which is the fruit Of
compromise between the long time
warning factions of the Republican
party, was signed by Governor Cum
minis on April 4th. The signing of the
Dill was made memorable by the gath
ering In the executives Office of II
number of the members, Republicans
and Democrats, who had been most
active in crowding the bill to passage
and who had formed the agreement by
which it had finally found smooth sail
ing through both houses. To celebrate
the adoption of the law and the oc-
casion Of the governor placing his
name to the bill Il photographer was
called and group of the most active
workers in its behalf were arranged
about the executives desk This
group embraces Senator Crossley, the
real father of primary election legisla-
tion in Iowa; Senator Peterson, author
of one of the bills presented to the
assembly; Senator Wilson, of Fayette
and Representative Darrah, of Lucas.
chairman Of the senate and house
committees on elections: Senators Gil