The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-01-07
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the service, the state and municipal
ity, which grants the franchises for
the use of the public streets and high
ways, and the stockholders and other
investors. trust this legislature will
give this subject it's early and earnest
attention.
I desire to renew the recommends
ton made by me to the last legisla-
ture In the matter of the enactment
of a law covering what is generally
known as the advisory initiative and
referendum, which would permit the
people of the state, county, city, vii
lage or town to express their views
upon questions affecting their organi-
zation. The enactment of law pro-
vtdfng for the advisory initiative and
referendum can be accomplished with
out constitutional amendment and I
firmly believe that such legislation Is
desirable.
Primary Election Law.
While there are doubtless some
minor defects in our present primary
election law and because of these de-
fects the law in it's operation is not
just what the trainers of it anticipated
it might be, and because of these de-
fects some notifications of the law as
1t stands now may be necessary. It
Is urged, and with much reason, that
the law in its present form permits
perjury, fraud, deceit and misrepre-
sentation and a total disregard for the
entire electoral system. Citizens called
upon to declare their political affilia-
tions feel that election Judges tres
pass upon their constitutional rights.
They feel also that no one has the
right to deny to them the fullest and
most complete participation in public
affairs. Whatever criticism may have
been made, just or unjust, am more
than ever convinced Of the correct
ness of the principle of the law under
lying the system and feel this so
strongly that I earnestly urge upon
this body the necessity of making tho
necessary notifications in the law as
applied to present conditions and
desire to go even further than that
and say that in my judgment better
results would be obtained by extend
ing the primary election law 20 that
it would include all Of the elective
officers of the state. It the law IL a
proper one as applied to the election
of congressman, district judges, coun-
ty, city and state officers it certainly
would be q proper one as applied to
the elective officers of the state. That
there will be differences Of opinion in
this matter, as there have ever been,
am aware, but in the states where
the primary election law has been OK
tended universally the most complete
satisfaction obtains.
Conclusion.
Finally, gentlemen OF the legisla-
ture, we live in and owe allegiance to
one of the greatest commonwealthsi In
the American Union and we approach
our respective duties at the period Of
the states highest development and
prosperity and therefore at the period
of the states greatest legislative and
executive responsibility and oppor-
tunity. Whatever may be our respec-
tive personal and political Affiliations
and ideas our duties and our purposes,
am sure are one; namely, tho pro-
lection and advancement of the high
est public interests of our common
wealth Elected to our respective po-
sitions by the same people and to
serve the one common cause our mis-.
sion here is one and the same, to give
the best service there is in US to the
state as q whole, as we have sworn
to do under the guidance Of our con-
situation. Whatever may appear to
be our respective obligations to par
ties, classes and sections these obliga-
lions are swallowed up and PATRIOTIC
ally and religiously redeemed In the
one duty Of public service to the state.
Of Minnesota. There Is surely no OBJ
legation to party, class or section para
mount to our sworn obligation to the
state as a whole. which includes all
parties, classes and sections. When
we have fulfilled our highest duty to
the whole we have met our obliga.
lions to each part; and, therefore. In
our great cooperative mission, legis-
latiye on your part and executive on
mine, there should be, and have.
faith to believe there are, no differ
ences or allurements Of party, class
or section to divert us from the great
highway Of public duty-the moral,
educational, financial and industrial
development Of our commonwealth.
To your every effort to bring prog.
ress and efficiency to the government
TO CURB A COLD IN ONE DAY.