New-York tribune., 1911-01-29
'ST|MSON URGES REFORMS
Progressive Movement Cure for
inefficient State Government.
FOR MORE EXECUTIVE POWER
Will Of the People Must Have
Adequate Expression-Re-
call and Referendum.

Cleveland, Jan. c-Henry l.. Stinson
Republican nominee for Governor of New
YORK N the last election, was the chie'
speaker at the Mckinley Day dinner OF the
Tippecanoe Club here this evening. He dis
cussed the progressive movement and ad-
vocated It's reforms as a cure for what he
termed the 'ineficiency OF our state gov
ernments"
The task Of the hour Is 10 remove old
shackles, and to fashion machinery through
which the purpose and will Of the people
never more intelligent or keen than now
shall find adequate expression" he said.
After paving tribute to Mckinley MT
Stimson turned 10 a discussion of the Fro
gressive movement in the Republican
party as 1t affects state governments
which he referred to as inefficient lie
said in part:
For more than a decade the Republican
party has been in power in tho nation ana
in most OF the states Its control Is Ho~
being seriously challenged by ns op
ponents ! am one OF those VINO peheVe
that in this CRISIS it's future success and
usefulness depend on its becoming nole
and more closely identified with TINS pro-
gressive movement
Virtually every important law comes noI
from our lawmakers themselves but from
some outside source. good or oan y,
framed outside by some power In or OUT OF
official life is forced through hy pupnc
opinion or private influence. and remains ~
a record not OF the Legislatures WILL ou'
Of it's susceptibility.
side by side with our helpless off1cialdorl
has grown up the tremendous structure o. o.
modern Incorporated business There IS
nothing inefficient in that development
Its wealth is lim'less and increasing, u, us
organization has the perfection or a mill
tary machine its ministers spring 10 their
tasks endowed with the best specialized
training that science can give them.
One result of this growth OF the power
and wealth OF business has been a COM
pletc change In tho attitude Of the private
citizen toward the executive. Instead or
reea ding il as a possible tyrant, as Jeffer-
son did. we now look to executive ACTON
10 protect the individual citizen against
the oppression OF this unofficial power or
business.
Mr.. Stimson made plea for wider lati-
tude for governors. instead OF further
limitations. "In the name Of sense" ne
said. "let US not take away any OF the
limited powers which they now have
Discussing the recall. lie said:
To apply such system to our present
strte executive holding an office for one
or two years would be absurd. II would
tend 70 weaken what is already TOO weak
II would take away what little independence
he now possesses But on the other hand
tho recall applied 10 an executive such as
I believe he should be with long term
and with concentrated power over his sub
ordinates, and broad regulative functions IN
the state. would be most valuable engine
for keeping alive his sense or responsibility
toward his constituents.
The speaker urged that the Governor
have not only the right to suggest leg1sla-
ton. but also 20 introduce It into the Legis-
lsture He paid tributes to Governors
Hughes and Roosevelt. and pointed out how
they had been handicapped in their efforts
for reforms
Tho Malady and tho Remedy.
Summing up his analysis. Mr.. stimson
said:
believe that the causes Of our trouble
are in the main. threefold: first, our state
executives are not strong enough or re-
ditions: second our local legislatures
largely owing TO the same change In
modern conditions. have tended TO oecom5
less representative of public opinion ano
and, third, that the theory OF separating
the Governor from the Legislature is 2
tremendous block TO efficiency.
Speaking Of the communities with whlcr
am familiar, | believe that the c1eares'
and most natural proposition for reform
state government would contain the follow.
ing features. among others: lenStnenec
term for the Governor, say, four years
with the right of recall at the end OF two
wears. as now exists in the case OF the
MAYOR Of Boston.
Give him the same power 10 select ano
control his cabinet and the heads OF his de
nartments which is possessed by the Presi'
dent OF the United States, especially with
an absolute and unconditional power OF re,
,ovaI This same power should be carried
through all of the executive department.
through which IS administered the regula
1--WE control Of our public service corpora
tions and other public utilities.
Give him the undisputed right not only tc