Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-23

laws insuring good government FIRST:
"A corrupt practices act.
THE commission form OF govern
ment in cities desiring it by 80 per
cent majority vote
An election reform bill, designed
for the purpose of making rule by the
interests diff cult and rule by the peo-
pie easy
"A primary bill providing for di-
rect nomination and election of all Of
fcials, including delegates to the ma
tional convention, a more drastic
measure than the Oregon plan.
Public utilities bill.
Employers liability bill.
"A law placing New Jersey on rec
ord as ready to aid in building ship
canal that will serve as a connecting
link between the two most populous
districts of the American continent.
"A law that will protect the New
Jersey public from the abuses of the
cold storage companies.
"A set of laws that will reorganize
the schools of the state along econom-
ic and progressive lines.
Il am not sure whether the cold
storage law has actually reached the
statute books. 1t may be still subject
to hearings before signature. But the
rest are laws, effective and useful. We
offer them as the record of what Gov
ernor Wilson has done and as an
earnest Of what he will do in higher
station"
Harmon Was Handicapped.
The friends of Governor Harmon
are not slow to accept the challenge
Of the Wilsonites for show Of
trophies wrested from unwilling leg
islatures by their respective cham
pions. Indeed the Harmonites have
been chatting under the long silence
imposed upon them and upon their
chief By the legislature which has only
just adjourned and permitted bal
ance sheet to be struck. Notwith-
standing the criticisms of the legisla
ture so widely printed, it adjourned
with record of accomplishments Of
which the country as yet is uninform-
w
People hardly understand the diff
ferent conditions that confronted Gov
ernor Harmon and Governor Wilson,"
said Representative Alfred G. Allen of
Cincinnati. Governor Harmon had to
deal with legislature having in the
senate Democratic majority Of only
four, and some Of these Democrats
hi NJ, 10 4Io
and stubbornly refused to aid in the
passage of many measures he favored.
At best the Ohio legislature is a cum
bersome body-153 members in all.
Being so narrowly divided on party
lines, it was easy for few recalci-
trants to cause prolonged delay and
positively to menace the enactment of
the legislation to which the party and
the governor stand pledged.
"The narrow Democratic margin
which because of personal antagon-
isms cannot be called a margin in the
governors favor-compelled him to
stick closely by his job 1t is not too
much to say that had he left the CAPT
tai at a time when the legislature was
in session the result would have been
the defeat Of measures which ulti-
mately he carried through successful
ly.
"Confned thus to the limits of Co
lumbus, he has been unable to go
among the people, expounding his
views, defending his administration
and declaring his political convictions
Measures Harmon Promoted.
But if you want to know what sig
nltlcant measures, what bills of i'm
portance Governor Harmon successful
ly urged upon the legislature, here is
list:
THE Oregon plan of nominating and
electing United States senators by di-
rect vote of the people
Placing the Ohio judiciary beyond
the clutches of party bosses by elect
ing all judges on non-partisan ballots
Providing for injured workmen
from a fund made up of contributions
from employers and employees.
"A public utility commission with
authority to regulate issues OF stock,
rates, mergers and service
"A corrupt practices act
"A limited initiative and referen-
dunn for cities
"A radical reform of Ohio election
laws
1.-THE election Of delegates to the
1912 Ohio constitutional convention
on non-partisan ballots and after nom
ination bySpetition
"a nine-hour work day for women
Requiring agriculture to be taught
in all Ohio village and country
schools
'Tax reform laws putting corporate
and individual tax dodgers out of bust
ness.
compelling the deposit of state
money in banks under the competitive
bidding plan.
Ratification of the proposed in
come tax amendment to the federal
constitution.