Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-14
GOVERNOR OUTLINES
NEEDED REFORMS

and the defects discovered in this SyS-
tenn have been so manifest that there
is universal demand for something
better. l therefore earnestly recon-
mend, as l have recommended before,
an efficient primary election law. l
recognize that there are differences of
opinion with respect not only to the
scope but the details of such law.
but I sincerely hope that these diff
ferences may not be so broad or so
fundamental that they cannot be rec
onciled. 1 have given much thought
to the subject, but shall not impose
upon you at this time more than
statement of the essential features
which the primary election law should
contain.
First, it should embrace the nomin-
alton of candidates for all elective Of
fees, whether state, county. municipal
or district, including the office of SEN
ator of the United States.
Second it should provide for the
nomination of candidates for these
offices by the primary vote, and should
not remit nominations, under any cir
cumstances, to convention, except in
the event of tie
Third, the primary election for all
political parties should be held thru
out the state on the same day and in
the same places.
Fourth, there should be some fair
test of party affiliation.
I know that there are some thought
full students of the subject who believe
that a nomination by mere plurality IS
unwise, and l grant that there may be
instance in which the concurrence OF
majority would be better, but to re-
quire majority in all cases would
be to make no substantial change IN
the present system, for conventions
would still be compelled to nominate
candidates. If, therefore, we are to
advance at all, it seems to me that
we must adopt nominations by plural-
tiles
am aware, also, that there are many
persons, with the utmost sincerity, who
believe that certain offices, such as
Judges of the supreme court and dis
trict courts, attorney general, clerk and
reporter of the supreme court, and SUI
perintendent of public instruction,
should not be included. do not share
the fears that lead to this conclusion.
And vet I am quite willing to concede
that if there are to be exceptions to
the full and complete operation of the
law they should be along this line
rather than any other
I leave the subject with you, con-
fident that you will deal with it as be-
comes it's vast Importance, and in ac-
cordance with the spirit which so un-
iversally prevails.
Railroads.
Inasmuch as 1 feel compelled to make
a series of recommendations that
touch, directly and indirectly, the rail-
roads within the state, must be al
lowed a brief preface. There has been
within the last three or four years, SO
much discussion concerning the rela-
tions of the railroads to the people,
that those who manage railroad prop
erty and those who own railroad stocks
and bonds seem to fear that there ex-
lists violent prejudice which will re-
suit in unjust legislation. cannot
believe that the fear is we'll founded.
The discussion has been the natural
outcome of the marvellous increase in
commerce, and the plain attempt OF
railroad managers to reap the largest
profit from the unparalleled traffic OF
the time These managers while they
admit as a mere abstraction the prop
osition that a railroad has not the lib
erty or license of private property
cannot and will not accept it as rule
of conduct. They still believe, appar-
emily, that they have right to capltal-
ize not only present earnings, but
hopes for the future. They cannot
and will not, save theoretically, rec
ognize that all persons and all local.
tiles must be given the use OF trans
portation facilities upon like terms uh-
der like conditions.
There is no disposition upon the part
of the people generally or of any leg
islative body to take away from the
railroad corporations the management
of their property or to deny them full
and adequate compensation for the |
service rendered say to you, and
hope you will bear it in mind when |
YOU come to consider the recommenda-
tions I shall make, that you could not |
infiict a more fatal blow upon the peo-
pie of this state than to adopt such |
legislation as would deprive our rail- |
roads of the opportunity to earn fair
profit. We are as dependent for our
material we'll being upon the transpor-
tation afforded by the railroads as we
are upon the air we breathe for the i
continuance of life. Railroads will not |
and can not serve the people efficiently
unless they are reasonably conn pensat-
ed for the work they do. The spirit Of !
is not in the people of Iowa
and it is not in this general assembly. /
The railroad companies may dismiss I
all fear of injury. 1t is incredible that |
the calm wisdom Of this or any other I
legislative body in a country like ours
will impose such restrictions upon tho /
use of railroad property as will render /
it either Improbable in operation or
unfairly interfere with the control of |
its owners. The whole history Of legis- !
lation upon this subject proves conclu-
sively the truth of my assertion. Not
all the acts that have
been passed regulating the opera ton
and limiting the compensation of rail-
roads whether by the states or the
United States the railroads have stead 7
lily grown in mileage and increased in /
revenue until their excessive stocks |
and bonds aggregate nearly one-sev-
enth the entire wealth of the nation I
Experience has abundantly shown
that, with the privilege granted to them
by the law, they can take care of
much more effectually than
CONTINUED on Eighth Paee.l