Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-18
HIS FIRST MESSAGE:
NEW EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDS
MANY IMPORTANT CHANGES
IN LAWS.
ASKS FOR PROMPT ACTION
His Suggestions, He Declares, Are
Not Perfunctory Expressions Of
Any Department of Government.
but in a Sense Are Real Mandate
From the People Themselves.

Madison, Wis.-In his first message To
the legislature Governor McGovern urges
some important changes in the laws of
the state. He declares that Wisconsin
has been the leader in carrying forward
reform legislation and that the present
affords splendid opportunity for continu-
ing the work along those lines
The problems presented by the growth
Of monopolies 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 of both
capital and labor. The governor saws:
Accusation and recrimination concern
ing existing abuses should now come to
an end. This was once a necessary
phase in the development of present is
sues, but it is so no longer The people
now want action. They must have re-
suits. In all governmental affairs the
newly awakened public conscience de-
mands 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 it without I'M
necessary delay"
Primary Election Law.
The primary law, according to the gov
ernOr, has been frequently tested and
the arguments against it's adoption are
now seen to be without merit Some de-
fects, however, are now apparent. Con-
tinuing this subject the governor says:
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 a major
ity Of the voters of a party. Generally
speaking, majority rule wherever prac-
ucable has been regarded as a funda-
mental tenet in the government of public
bodies and voluntary political associa-
tons 1t is not secured by the primary
law in It's 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 legislativ
programs than in party organization or
partisan candidates. AS a result, con-
fict of opinion within each party is now
often more intense than between the par
ties. and a constant but almost imper-
cepdble shifting and interchange of mem
bership is taking place. Thus the real
lines of political cleavage frequently run,
not parallel to conventional party boun-
daries, but across them. In this situa-
ton it 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
subterfuge
As the law now stands there is danger
that whenever the majority wing or fac
ton of any party is represented by q
number of candidates in a primary cam
paign. compact, cohesive and well drill
ed minority may defeat IT.
This is a condition which should not
be permitted to continue. It flows from
defect in the present law which may be
Temedied in large measure at least, If 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 inestimabIe. earn
estly recommend the enactment OF such
a law
Corrupt Praceises Act.
The excessive use of money in political
campaigns is declared by the governor to
he an unmitgated 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
fuencing elections is a debauching and
cOrrupting influence which has grown in
prominence and baleful significance with
reIt'hI succeeding campaign. IN any FORM
this practice Is demoraliZing; but Il be-
comes intolerable when it reaches the
point of lawleSsness and extravaganza.
Repeatedly single candidates and politi-
cal committees have expended vast sums
Of money. some times more than hun
dred thousand dollars, most of which
was deSignedly employed to misead the
voters and befog the issues pending be
fore them. As the law now stands every
candidate for public office, whether he
likes It or not is placed a. the mercy OF
men of great wealth who purpose. bv
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 pract1ses act. He says:
Such a law should provide for publ
cation by the state and at public ex-
pense of necessary information concern
fng the qualifications of candidates at
ell primary and general elections; It
should place an absolute limit on the
amount of money which may be spent by
or on behalf Of any candidate for public
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: It should
provide that no money whatever may be
spent in political campaigns except for
certain purposes which should be enum-
Grated in the law; ii 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 frori the original contributor
TO the ultimate recipient; It should pro-
hibit all political activity whatever on
either primary or General election day;
and g should compel compliance with its
provisions BY rigorous penalties. inciud-
ing Imprisonment and disqualification OF
candidates for public office"
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The executive declares that demand
has grown up for a more enlightened and