Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-14

QeteCtlng ana correcting any errors
that may have been made for it is
my purpose to point out at least few
things which in my Judgment should
be corrected. In doing SO have in
and perpetuating such laws rs will
best protect the interests OF our peo
pie and of adding to or enacting such
other laws as necessity may require,
rather than that any backward steps
shall be taken or that there shall be
any waning of interest.
How to Amend fhe Laws.
We have recently had all of the
laws passed since 1897 codifed and
printed in the form Of a supp 0nent
to the code. This codification re-
veals the fact that in number OF
Instances amendments to the laws
were attempted, which by reason Of
improper references, are Of question
able validity. It also reveals the fact
that in many instances numerous
amendments have been made to va.
rious section of the code and that
without having the same codified it
becomes very difficult matter for
one to know what the law really is
and in order to determine the ques-
ton as to what constitutes the law
1t becomes necessary to examine not
only the code and code supplement,
but all Of the session laws made since
the last codification, and then engraft
in or upon to the original section all
changes that may have been made.
desire to submit for your considera-
ton the inquiry as to whether 1t
would not be wise and desirable in
amending any section OF the law that
the section be rewritten as it would
appear when amended. BY this means
there is, in reality, codification Of
the laws brought down to date of last
amendment. There can then be no
question as to what constitutes the
law, and the legislature will have a
full understanding as to the effect of
any proposed changes. This method
of amending laws Is In vogue In many
other states, and in my judgment is
very much more satisfactory than our
present method.
Primary Election Law.
The last regular session Of the gen.
eral assembly enacted law providing
that all nominations for state, con-
gressional, legislative and county Of
fees, except for judges of the various
courts, shall be made by vote Of the
people at primary election to be
held in the month of June of the year
in which general election Is to be
held. Under the provisions Of this
law, nominations for offices to be
filled at the last general election were
made The working Of the law was
perhaps as satisfactory as could have
been expected, but some weaknesses
were apparent, which, in my judg-
ment, should be considered by you
at the present session. Before pass
Ing any criticism upon the statute,
want to assure you that am in full
sympathy with the principle of the
primary and am of the opinion that
no radical departure from the general
plan Of the law should be made at
this time. but the weak places should
be strengthened and the law should
be given fair test.
There is one thing. however, that
causes me to fear that the statute
may not meet with final approval, that
is. the apparent inability. OF the voter
to acauaint himself with the cand1-
dates, especially for the minor state
Offices and those below the head Of
the ticket. There seems II be preva-
lent belief that the candidate whose
name heads the list thereby secures
IN advantage over his opponent. This
has led many individuals to believe
that the alphabetic arrangement OF
names should be abandoned and that
names should be rotated upon the bal
lot. I have hesitated to suggest an
amendment touching this point, be
cause such q provision must neces-
sarily presume upon either the indif.
ference of our people or their inability
to acquaint themselves with candi'
dates, either of which reflects mildly
at least, upon the intelligence of the
voter.
But there seems to be some grounds
for the belief that the candidate whose
name appears first among the list OF
candidates does secure some advant'
age over others. If this be true and
a reasonable means can be found
whereby to obviate the difficulty 1t
should be done, as all candidates
should, so far as possible, stand upon
absolutely equal footing.
There is another amendment which
the experience of the executive coun'
Gil. in passing upon claims, in my
Judgment. demonstrates beyond ques
ton should be adopted, that is, the
elimination of that provision which re
quires the state to pay one-half OF the
expense of holding the primary cleo
ton. Each county should meet the
expense of it's own primary the same
as it does the expense OF the general
election. BY such means better econ
| omy will be observed and less friction
in the payment of claims will follow
The present plan is practically equiv
| alent to the states collecting the
money necessary to meet it's portion
of the expenses from the counties and
then turning it back to them. In ad
dition to this needless requirement
which of itself adds to the expense Of
! the primary, there cannot but be
| conflict of oninion, il not of authority