The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-05
STATES FUTURE
LEFT TO PEOPLE
Gov. Johnson's Administration Re-
deems Pledges and Places Power
To Rule With the Electorate.

BY HIRAM w. JOHNSON.
SACRAMENTO, May 4.-The effort
to exempt the judiciary under the OPP
GRAFTON OF the recall, was the last de-
termined attempt to block the pro-
gress OF CALIFORNIA; new administra-
ton in the fulfillment OF It's pledges.
In the struggle In the legislature
to secure the adoption OF a resolution
, to submit to the people the question
OF a general recall law, the forces OF
special privilege were driven from
their last intrenchments.
Three important steps remained:
To safeguard public funds.
To further fortify the state against
corporate aggression.
To extend the power of the people
IN the National Congress.
The first was accomplished by the
creation OF board OF control TO re-
place the existing state board OF ex-
aminers, which had proven itself in
effective In preventing waste and ex-
travagance. The new board. made
appointive by the governor, was en-
powered to supervise the expendi-
lures of funds for state institutions,
In the matter OF purchasing supplies,
letting contracts, inspecting building
operations and other work performed
for the state and otherwise to guard
against wasteful expenditure OF pub
! lie funds.
The second step was accomplished
by extending the powers and jurisdic-
ton OF the railroad commission from
railroads to all public service corpor-
atoms
The "oregon Plan"
Il What has come to be known as the
Oregon Plan" accomplished the third
step. Though, under the existing di-
rect primary law, the people had gain
ed the power If choosing by direct
vote their representatives in the low
er house of the national congress, the
function of electing u. 8. senators
still remained with the legislature.
The new administration stood pledg-
ed to transfer this function to the
people.
We believed the Oregon Plan" to
be the most satisfactory method OF
effecting this transfer. It's operation,
think, is now very generally under
stood. BY indirection 1t removes the
function of electing u. 8. senators,
conferred upon legislatures by the
constitution of the u. s. from the
Legislature to the people, by permit
ting the pledging of candidates for
the legislature to vote in the legisla-
ture for the peoples choice for U. s.
senator, as expressed by direct vote
at statewide election.
A bill amending the existing direct
FNyrtr 1axx IN iVnn Ind hn
plan was submitted to the legislature
and passed without serious opposi-
ton.
Ii was q long, hard, splendid SEES
sion. Ii was a session unprecedented
in the history OF the state. 1t marked
the end OF one. era, the dawn OF an
other. %
The 85th day ended with every
promise OF the new administration
| fulfilled, with list OF ciean-cut vic
tories for the people truly astounding
Ia extent and import.
at Rests With the People"
How far reaching will be those vic
tories, to what extent both state and
nation will benefit by them, rests
largely with the electorate Of Cali
fcrnia
My faith in the intelligence and
the patriotism of the average Ameri-
can voter leads me to the firm con-
yiction that the splendid opportuni-
ties created by the legislature will be
improved to the utmost In California;
and that thereby the cause OF true
democracy, the struggle to establish
government in this nation. will be
advanced intelligently, effectively,
permanently.
tGov. Johnsons final article will APP
pear In The Times tomorrow. You
can't afford to miss II. Johnson ex-
poses the preparations being made and
the methods being used by the special
interests TO undo at the polls at the
next California election all that Is pos
sible of the great accomplishments of
the Legislature and points out what
the story he has told means to you.
an individual American citizen, no
matter where you live.)