The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-06
Inaugural Address Is One of
 Shortest on. Record
MANY REFORMS FAVORED
clares That the Era of Bosses Is Over and Government By the
 People Must Prevail

Boston. Mass, January 5.-Eugene N. Floss today assumed the office of the governor of Massachusetts.
 The inaugural ceremonies before a joint convention of the senate and ocratic celebration, for MT. Foss is the first governor of that party since 1905 and the third in IS years. Governor Foss also made another record by making an inaugural ad- dress that was the shortest and plain est in the memory of the oldest of ficeholders beneath the golden dome. In his inaugural address the new governor expressed his ideas on state affairs and suggested many sweep ing reforms. He told the legislature that it should consider direct nom- nations, the initiative and referen- dunn, the rights of labor to organize and protect, the constitutional amendment of the income tax and re- the state be re-districted this year along lines run by engineers and not by, the irregular divisions drawn by politicians. He criticised the mer- ger two years ago of the Boston and Mains railroad with the New York, New Haven ana TallTOdu anu denounced government by commits sion.
 In his inaugural address MT. Foss said in part:
 We have a crisis in the affairs of this commonwealth. It is a crisis which our form of government Is fac ing today not only in Massachusetts but in every state In the union. This crisis Is all the more marked in our state because Massachusetts is the birthplace of popular government The people in all sections of the coun try have lost confidence in many of their public servants. The dictator resentatives of special interests is hotly resented for these men desire to control public servants ard to di rect legislation in their own end.
 "This usurpation of power can only be ended by the people taking into their own hands the direction and control of their government The first step is to abolish the boss and all his agencies: the caucus, the. nominating convention and all political machinery which inter- venes between the people and their gov ernments. All candidates for public of flee without exception must be chosen by the people through the direct primary. To the direct primary must be joined the power of recall; so that any public
  may be immediately dismissed.
 Important as these steps are 1t is of far greater importance that the. people keep their power of legislation through the initiative and referendum. Under the conditions today, as l see them, these are the only true safeguards of repre- sentative government urged on you a resolve for constitutional amendment to provide for the initiative and refer endum."
 Governor Foss then spoke on the sub feet of labor, declaring that labor should be exempt from unfair injunction restric- tons; that the liberty and property of citizen should not be taken from him without trial by a jury; that compensa- tion of labor should be above bare living, and that the hours of labor should be rigidly defined and limited, especially for women and children, with due regard to healthful conditions and educational opportunity. He then advocated work ingmen's compensation for injuries.
 '.The use of money In elections has become a great evil,' said the governor, flor 1t amounts to- substantial denial of the pfivilege of a man of moderate means to aspire to many public offices in the commonwealth; or else 1t over- whelmingly tempts him to make his se- cret peace with those private interests which will finance his campaign if he will serve them in office. To correct this evil, it is necessary to prohibit those methods of campaigning which cost so much money and are not in themselves necessary for the proper enlightenment of the voters"
 The governor recommended Legislation calling for the popular nomination Of United States senators and urged the legislature to ratify the constitutional amendment providing for a federal income tax.