Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-01-18
HIS FIRST MESSAGE
NEW EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDS
MANY IMPORTANT CHANGES
IN LAWS.
ASKS FOR PROMPT ACTION
Ills Suggestions. He Declares, Are
Not Perfunctory Expressions of
Any Department Of Government,
but in a Sense Are Real Mandate
From the People Themselves.

w. ~ SShSC FEG neal man0akC
From the People Themselves.
Madison. Wis-In his first message 90
me 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 says:
Accusation and recriminatfon 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 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 10 the lines upon which you
should proceed. Let me most earnestly
urge upon you the necessity of taking up
this work and completing IL without I'M
necessary delay"
Primary Election Law.
The primary law, according to the gov
ernor, has been frequently tested and
the arguments against its adoption are
now seen to be without merit. Some de-
fects, however. are now apparent. Con-
finuing this subject the governor says:
The principal weakness in the law is
that under 1t 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 party. Generally
speaking, majority rule wherever prac-
ucabie 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 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 I'm political ideas and legislative
programs than In party organization or
partisan candidates As a result con-
nict of opinion within each party is now
often more intense than between the par
ties, and a constaut but almost imper-
ceptible shifting and interchange Of mem
bershtp 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 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
subterfuge
AS the law now stands there is danger
mat whenever the majority wing or fac
o fnd ~
number OF candidates in Urinary 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
a defect In the present law which NAV be
remedled in large measure at least II not
completely by permitting voter AT the
primary election to name their second
choice candidate for each office THE
value of majority nominations NAV In
oeed at times prove inestimable. I earn
estiy recommend the enactment Of such
law"
Corrupt Praetlses Act.
The excessive use Of money in political
campaigns is declared by the governor m
be an unmitgated evil and one that has
apparently increased with each succeed
Ing year On this subject he saws:
Lavish expenditure Of money through
n
nueneing elections is a debauching and
corrupuns influence which has grown in
prominence and baleful Significance with
each succeeding campaign. In any FORM
this practice is demoraizing; but It be-
comes lntolerable when IT reaches the
point or lawlessness and extravagance
Repeatedly single candidates and noiitI-
cal committees have expended vast sums
or money, some times more than a hun
'ured thousand dollars, most Of which
was designedly employed to rpisIaed tba
voters and befog the issues pending he
Tore them. As the law now stands ever,,
candidate for public office, whe+ber he
likes 1t or not, IS placed at the mercy ~
men OF great wealth who purnosa b1,
the power OF money, to annex n tbe,,
possessions some desirable public off1ce ;.
To remedy this condition Of affairs the
governor urges the enactment Of an eff
receive corrupt practises act He saws.
Such n law should provide for n,hu-
cation by the state and at public ex
pense Of necessary information concern
ing the qualifications Of candidates. at
all primary and general elections. q
should place an absolute limit on the
amount Of money which may be sDept h,,
or on behalf Of any candidate FOR r,,hl,,
office, this amount to depend in each
case, or course. upon the Importance ~
the office and to bear some fair relation,
TO the salary incident thereto: II should
provide that no money whatever NAV be
spent In political campaigns except for
certain purposes which should be enun
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 ia fba
end that every dollar spent may readily
DC traced from the original contributor
70 the ultimate recipient: It should pro-
hioit all political activity whatever on
eltner primary or general election dav:
and It should compel connplIanca v,ttb tts
provisions by rigorous penalties jncIud-
ing Imprisonment and disqualification OF
candidates for public office."
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The executive declares that , demand
mas grown up foV a more enlightened and