The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-05-14
LACEY DISCUSSES
STATE AFFAIRS
POINTS OUT NEEDS OF A 6Usl-
NESS ADMINISTRATION.
HOW EXPENDITURES INCREASE
Expenses Under Governor cummins
Are Double What They Were
Under Gov. Jackson--Lar-
ger Tax Levies.


F. Lacey in his address here, devoted
"a good share OF his speech to dis
cussion of state affairs. He in part
said:
Il have always been of the opinion
that the old Iowa constitution was
wise in its provisions when it provided
for the election of a governor ami
Legislature each year, and preside1-
tial and congressional election on the
even-numbered years. / do not pro.
pose to discuss the biennial amend
ment proposition; the people have
settled that, and we are under that
system, Under the old system, the
governor and legislature, in the odd
numbered years were called to strict
account for their management OF
state affairs; and the subjects of APP
preparations and taxation were pafa,
mount issues Under that system
state officials could not shelter them
tional issues. but were compelled to
give an accounting of their steward
ship. The state officials had the per-
feet right to take deep interest IN
national affairs, but they could not
lead the people away from the discus
sion of the local affairs directly con.
corning our own state. Instead or
visiting Boston and other great cities
outside of the state for the discuss on
of national issues our state officials
were expected to rather pride them
selves on their fidelity in the perform
ance of their duties for which they
were elected.
BY the adoption of the Board OF
Control Law it has been assumed
that the work of the governors office
has been transferred largely with its
responsibilities to other hands, ami
placed in charge of men who werc
not elected by the people
~ ~ s5s.s lewe W. svvg-e y
Board of Pafdons the governors once
has been further relieved OF that din
cult and harrassing duty. Thus abb
solved of the performance of the ex-
ecutive's duties provided in the con-,
stitution of the state, it has been as
ny oOulS llS SONtIHOI
must relieve his desire for work by
chautauqua speaking and constant
activity in national, instead of state
affairs.
"The new idea of executive life has
its attractions, for it is much pleas
anter to indulge in oratory in the full
glare of publicity and cheered by the
applause of appreciative audiences
than to attend personally to the hard
and laborious work unexcitfng~ aru
nonapplauded drudgery of public sta
ton
But somebody must attend to pub
lie affairs. No business, public or
private, can be conducted on mere
oratory Articulated, wind, however,
constant the supply, is poor substIl
tute for diligence in business He
that is diligent in business shall stand
before kings For the first time in
the history, of our state the sampexec.
7utiye has been chosen for third
term and an additional year added by
reason of the constitutional amend
ment. Il think it is well for the peo-
pie to open the books and consider
whether our next governor shall be
worker and an industrious thinker OF
whether he shall be chosen mainly,
If not solely, upon the strength of his
loyalty and adherence to the present
governor, whose time VIII soon ex-
pire; and shah that executive be
chosen TO represent the state in .he
senate on the strength OF what he
has done?
Abraham Lincoln has said many
good things; one of the wisest We
cannot escape history. Every admin
istration makes history upon which
it must stand or fall. The proudest
title ever given to a governor of Iowa
was that which loving state gave TO
John Henry Gear, when it nicknamed
him old Business. That title gave
him more pleasure than his elevation
to a seat in, the United States senate.
1t is high time that the people OF Iowa
should again demand. business adj
niinisration.
II am talking to an audience OF tax
payers. Many of you have preserved
your tax receipts covering long per-
iod of years. If you will run over these
receipts you will find that from 1878
to 1894 the state tax levy was from
2 to 21a mills, never exceeding 21s
mills during that period. viii give
you the state levy for each year from
1895 to the present; 1895, 21a mills:
1896. 2 $40 mills 1897. 2 $40 minis:
1898. the year OF the Spanish war.
3 $40 mills; 1899. the year following
the Spanish war. 5 mills Our state
equipped four regiments for that war
the expense of which was subsequently
refunded by the National Govern
ment which went into the treasury