River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-01-19
IS A MANDATE
FROM THE PEOPLE
Governor so CharacteriZeS Sug-
qeStionS to Legislature.
IMPORTANT REFORMS URGED
Perfected Primary Law, an Effective
Corrupt Practices Act, Home
Rule for Cities, and Initiative,
Referendum and Recall Rec
commended for Con-
alteration.

SICEFdLIOns
Madison Wis.-Goyernor McGovern, In
his inaugural address, declares that rev
legislatures have convened in Wisconsin
with equal opportunity for doing good
Many legislative matters Of the very
highest Importance, upon which there is
practical unanimity of opinion, have been
considered and await only enactment INTO
Law.
The problems presented by the growth
of Ynonopolfes and trusts and the dis
placement Of the small manufacturer are
discussed by the governor, and the ne
cessity for curative legislation along lines
that will protect the interests or both
capital and labor. The governor says:
"Accugation and recrimination concern
Ing existing abuses should now come to
an end. This was once necessary
phase in the development of present is
Sues but it Is so no longer. The people
now want action. They must have
suits. In eli governmental affairs the
newly awakened public conscience de-
mands a square deal. In response to this
imperative demand you, gentlemen of the
legislature, should accomplish much du-
ring this session. The great mass Of men.
all political parties, are in substantial
accord as to the lines upon which you
should proceed. Let me most earnestly
urge upon you the necessity OF taking up
this work and completing 1t without I'M
necessary delay"
Primary Election Law.
The primary law, according to the gov
sruor, has been frequently tested and
the arguments against it's adoption arc
now seen to be without merit. Some de-
Iects however, are now apparent. Con-
tnuing this subject the governor says:
1.-THE principal weakness in the law Is
that under it nominations may be made
by the vote Of a mere plurality. In many
cases this has been less than major
ity Of the voters of a party. Generally
speaking, majority rule wherever prac-
tcable has been regarded as a funda-
mental tenet in the government Of public
bodies and voluntary political associa-
lions IT is not secured by the primary
law in its present form
Existing political conditions greatly
emphasize this defect. Never was indie
pendence In politics more marked. Many
good citizens now vote for men rather
than for parties, and are more deeply In
terested in political ideas and legislative
programs than In party organization or
partisan candidates. AS q result, con-
fiict OF opinion within each party is now
often more intense than between the par
ties. and a constant but almost imper-
ceptible shifting and interchange OF mem
bership Is taking place. Thus the real
lines OF political cleavage frequently run,
not parallel to conventional party boun-
put across them. In this S1tua-
t1on 1t has become very important that
the nomination Of party candidates and
determination OF what shall constitute
party principles may be made honestly
and fairly and free from strategy or
sabterfuge
AS the law now stands there is danger
that whenever the majority wing or fac
ton OF any party is represented by a
number Of candidates in primary cam
paign. compact, cohesive and well drill
ed minority may defeat It.
This is a condition which should not
be permitted to continue. 1t flows from
q defect In the present law which may be
remedied in large measure at least IL not
completely by permitting voters at the
primary election to name their second
choice candidate for each office The
value OF majority nominations may in
deed at times prove inestimable. I earn
estly recommend the enactment Of such
a law"
Corrupt PractIses Act.
The excessive use of money in political
campaigns IS declared by the governor to
be an unmitigated evil and one that has
apparently increased with each succeed
ing year. On this subject he says:
Lavish expenditure of money through
political channels for the purpose OF in
nuencing elections is a debauching and
corruptfng influence which has grown in
prominence and baleful Significance with
each succeeding campaign. In any form
this practice Is demOralizing; but 1t be-
comes intolerable when it reaches the
point OF lawlessness and extrayagance
Repeatedly single. candidates and politi-
cal committees have expended vast sums
or money, some times more than n hun
dred thousand dollars most of which
was desfgnedly employed to rnislead the
voters and befog the issues pending he
fore them. AS the law now stands every
candidate for public office, whether he
likes 1t or not. is placed at the mercy Of
men OF great wealth who purpose. by
the power of money, to annex TO their
possessions some desirable public Office
To remedy this condition of affairs the
governor urges the enactment of an ef
fective corrupt practises act. He SAYS:
Such law should provide for pubu-
cation by the state and at public en-
pense OF necessary information concern
ing the qualifications OF candidates at
all primary and general elections. n
should place an absolute limit on +ha
amount of money which may be spent nv
or on behalf of any candidate for nuhIfc
office, this amount to depend in each
case, of course upon the Importance Of
the office and to bear some fair relation
to the salary incident thereto: 1t should
provide that no money whatever NAV he
spent In political campaigns except for
certain purposes which should be enun,
Grated in the law; it should REQUIRE a
strict system OF public accounting of all
money disbursed in political campaigns
in order to avoid evasion. and to the
end that every dollar spent may readily
be traced from the original contributor
to the ultimate recipient; 1t should pro-
hibit all political activity whatever on
either primary or general election day.
and it should compel compliance with its
provisions by rigorous penalties, includ-