The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08

In this great work, at the threshold OF
your labors, the executive department
tenders you cordial cooperation and
submits for your earnest considera-
ton numerous recommendations.
Primary Elections.
wish to renew the recommendation
made at length in my message two
years ago for the passage of pri-
mary election law. In a republic like
ours, where sovereignty resides with
the individual citizen and where gov
eminent is the aggregate will and wis
dom of the country's citizenship, po-
litical parties are absolutely necessary.
They crystalline in their platforms and
policies the opinions and desires of
their adherents. In the nature of
things it Is necessary, also, that these
principles and desires shall have an in
itiative expression before the final ex-
preston in a general election in which
other people with other opinions and
desires have equal and concurrent
voice. This initiative, this primary ex-
preston of opinion and desire, is the
beginning of government, and 1T
seems so fundamentally true that all
the people of a common opinion and
desire should have as free and full OPP
portunity to express themselves at this
fountainhead of government as they
do at the later and less important final
voting-place, that argument on the
subject should be a needless task.
These views expressed in my last mes
sage are renewed in this one. / am
not unmin dful of the difficulties in the
way of a practical application of these
fundamental theories, but / trust this
legislature will be able to solve the
problem, and give the people of all
parties an opportunity to select at
primary election the candidates for
whom they will be asked to vote at
general election. They should also be
permitted to express their preference
for United States senator an express
sion which legislature would hardly
ignore. Let all the primaries be held
the same day, and the ballot-box
guarded with all the sacred safeguards
now thrown around the general cleo
ton. I wish also to renew my sugges-
ton, which think entirely reasonable,
that no one except a new voter be per-
mitted to vote at a party primary un-
less he had voted that party ticket at
the last general election. This will pre-
vent one of the most serious objec-
tons to our present caucus system
the participation of members of other
parties in the selection of weak can
didates for the opposition ticket, in or
der to increase the possibilities of the
success of their own.
Railroads.
I recommend the enactment of a
law forbidding gratuitous transporta-
ployees. Congress has enacted such a
law covering interstate. transportation,
and Kansas should follow the example
with reference to free passes within
state borders.
L recommend the appointment of a
committee early in the session to hear
arguments for and against a PROPOSE
ton to reduce railroad fare in this
state. Let both sides have a full and
fair hearing. that the interests of the
without arbitrarily doing that which
may be unjust to the transportation
companies. A reduction of railroad
fare is sure to come. 1t is only Ques-
ton whether or not that time has ar
rived. have given the subject much
thought and study, and believe that
with the abolition of free passes and
the stimulus to travel which a reduc-
ton OF fares would create. the COM
panfes would not be serious losers by
the reduction. while the public. of
course, would be immensely benefited
The board of railroad commissioners
should have a larger contingent fund
ehan that appropriated to their use by
the last legislature. The legislature of
Texas gives its commissioners a CON-
tngent fund of $43,0 900 per annunl. the
legislature of Minnesota gives its com
missioners $4,000. while we give our
only $4,000. In both these states how
ever, the commissioners have by d.
reeuons of the law, made inyestira
ton as to the value and costs of fhe
railroad properties of their respective
sea,es. employing civil engineers to
make the estimates.
Each of these states also has a rate
expert especially qualified to make a
thorough investigation of the FREIGHT
rates. III railroad rates in this state
are to be made equitable. anTaxnas.t
equal in ability to those fennlovad 'h,,
the railroads themselves in fixing the
schedules in the first place must he
employed by the state.
Inc absolute necessity, also. of an