The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-08-22

contained In the local OptlOu, p1dAh -
a fundamental principle Of our repub-
lican form of government. The en-
forcement of sumptuary laws depends
on local sentiment and I am satisfied
that the cause of temperance is best
served by an effective local option law.
If again chosen as your chief execu-
tive 1 will follow the same course pur-
sued by me in past legislation affect
ing great public questions. After the
legislature passes upon the general ma
ture of the bill to be enacted, defining
the extent of the territory to be at
fected by the vote, will enlist the CO.
operation and support to this measure
OF friends who will see that the de-
tails are such that the law as finally
approved shall result in efficient leg
islation-that the aims sought will be
accomplished. The demand for a
more thorough regulation of the liquor
traffic has been rapidly growing in
this country during the past few years
and many of the states have adopted
various measures of reform on these
lines. A strong and increasing senti-
ment favoring local option has pre-
vailed in this state for several years.
It has found expression in an effort
to enact a law putting it in force at
the last three sessions of the legisla-
ture. If the local option bill that
passed the house and senate in the
session~of 1903 by such decisive
vote had received the executives sig
nature this question would not now
be in issue. The result of the vote
showed that the people demanded the
remedial legislation. The vote stood
in the house: Yeas 60, nays 8; and
in the senate, yeas %, nays 6.
"My predecessor, in his wisdom, saw
fit to veto this bill. 1 desire to take
this opportunity to say to my friends
of Whatcom county and through you
to the people of the entire state that
am heartily and earnestly in accord
with the local option plank"
A further moral issue has been in
jected into this campaign through a
letter written to Governor Mead by
Rev. R. A. Matthews of Seattle, ask
ing the governor to define his posi-
ton upon race track gambling. Gov
ernor Mead frankly discloses his pO-
sition upon this question by stating in
an open letter that if elected governor
he will advocate and aid in securing
the passage of law making the SELL
ing of pools or making of books at
race tracks a felony.
Governor Mead advocates the ap-
pointment of an inspector of all hotels
and other places entertaining the trav-
cling public for hire, so as to compel
due and proper observance of rules
protecting the traveller in his health
and danger from fire.
Organized labor has done much to
secure legislation beneficial to labor.
However, one very important matter
has been neglected in the legislative
movement toward the betterment Of
labor conditions, and that is statu-
tory provision for the protection Of
female employees. Governor Mead
stands squarely upon the plank of the
present republican platform declaring
for an eight-hour day for female en-
ployes.
To protect employees and laborers he
favors the establishment in the cities
and towns Of free employment bureaus
under statutory regulation and the es-
Enlistment of free reading rooms.
AS shown by his public declarations
and messages and by his policy, he
favors the merit system in the selec-
ton and retention of employees con-
nected with the penitentiary, insane
asylums, reformatories and schools for
defective youth.
He is heartily in accord with the
plank providing for the regulation of
public service corporations; and, as
shown by his attitude at the conven-
ton of governors in Washington, D.
c., and by his different messages to
the legislature, he is thoroughly and
earnestly in accord with the provis-
ions of our platform providing for the
preservation of our natural resources.
been so active, so earnest and so zeal
GUS in ascertaining the needs, the con-
ditions and resources of the state; no
man is so we'll equipped with knowl-
edge of the business affairs of the
state as Governor Mead. He has the
ability and energy to put the informa-
ton thus acquired to use; and for di-
recting and managing the business af-
fairs of this state, he is the best quail
fled candidate.
We submit to the voters this record
and this declaration of policies, conf
dent that you will say as business
proposition that the affairs of state
shall be vested in Albert E. Mead for
another four years.
THINGS TO remember ABOUT
THE DIRECT PRIMARY LAW.