Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-14

persuaded 1t is the duty to convene the
general assembly in extraordinary ses-
sion during the coming fall to enact
a primary election law
The governor closes his discussion
of primary election reform as follows:
"I therefore renew my recommends
ton of the enactment of a direct pri-
mary law and urge its passage at the
present session"
Compulsory Service for Judges.
The governor next takes up the re-
cent wholesale primary election frauds
in Cook county last December, when
the Cook county grand jury returned
17S indictments against persons
charged with aiding Illegal voting and
other offenses. This led to the recon-
mendation by the Cook county grand
jury of certain changes in the general
election laws. The message continues:
'"The suggested changes were en-
bodied in a bill which was submitted
to the general assembly at the last
session and Included compulsory ser
vice as judges and clerks of election
and the comforting upon boards of cleo
ton commissioners, when specially au-
thori2ed by the county court 80 to do.
OF the power to appoint judges and
clerks of election to serve in precincts
in which. they did not reside. The pur-
pose of these provisions is plain.
THE preservation OF the purity OF
elections and the prevention and pun
ishment of fraud in their admfnistra-
ton is one of the most important sub
jects which could be submitted for leg
fslative consideration and ] trust that
some measure will be enacted at the
present session furnishing the addi-
tional safeguards suggested in the con
duct of general elections.
I'm this connection, l would also
urge upon the general assembly the
enactment of corrupt practices act,
placing a reasonable limit upon expan-
diture for campaign purposes and re-
quiring the publication by political
parties and by candidates for public
office of campaign expenses.
at is a fact of common knor-'edge
that almost every practice which is
inimical to the fairness and purity OF
elections involves the undue and IN
reasonable use of money for campaign
purposes. This had led to the enact
ment of corrupt practices acts in many
states and foreign countries. These
laws have proven very effective in the
prevention of election frauds and /
have no doubt that the passage of a
corrupt practices act for Illinois would
result in a similar improvement of the
conditions surrounding elections.
Fight for Waterway Begun.
"The failure to enact at the 1909
session of the general assembly leg
islation concerning the construction OF
the proposed waterway and the deyel-
opment of water power between Lock
port and Utica, have made it necessary
IN the interest of the public welfare to
bring tie subject OF such legislation
to your attention at this time with
view to its enactment at the present
session.
This is a measure which has al
ready engaged your attention in two
regular sessions and one adjourned
session. It was first brought to the
attention Of yoHr honorable body at
the session Of the general assembly OF
1905 when the law authorizing the ap-
pointment of the Illinois internal i'm
provement commission was enacted.
and second time at the regular ses-
sion of 1907, when the first report of
the commission was submitted for
your consideration.
"At that session, the information
and suggestions contained in their
report was thoroughly discussed, not
only by members Of the general as
sembly and the Illinois improvement
commission, but by members of the
national congress, by experts upon the
subject of waterway construction and
water power development, and by
many other prominent citizens. The
time occupied in the discussion OF
the proposed undertaking, along with
the other subjects then before you, ex-
tended the 1907 session of the general
assembly to May 16, on which date an
adjournment was taken without the
enactment of the necessary waterway
legislation.
Assembly Favors Project.
Shortly prior to that adjournment,
/ had the honor Of addressing to the
general assembly a special message
dated May 10, 1907, urging the necessity
for the enactment of waterway legis-
letion before a final adjournment of
the session. In relation to the water
power susceptible Of development be-
tween Lockport and Utica. as shown
by the report OF the internal improve
ment commission, my message said:
".'This power will aggregate many |
thousand horsepower In this |
connection, I may say that it is most |
important that private interests |
r>k lvz4-
the streams to the detriment of the |
rights of the whole people and to the !
OF the great waterway /
which is to be constructed This |
phase Of the question appeals for
prompt action on your part to prevent |
the complications and legal difficulties |
arising from the attaching of vested
rights
In response to this message, the
general assembly before adjourning on