The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-01-19
IS A MANDATE
FROM The PEOPLE
Governor so Characterizes Suu-
gesti0ns to Legislature.
IMPORTANT REFORMS URGED
Perfected Primary Law, an Effective
Corrupt Practices Act, Home
Rule for Cities, and Initiative,
Referendum and Recall Reop
commended for Con.
slderaton.

Madison, Wis,-covernor McGovern, in
hts inaugural address, declares that few
legislatures have convened in Wisconsin
with equal opportunity for doing good
Many legislative matters OF the very
highest Importance, upon which there Is
practical unaD1Sntty Of opinion, have been
considered and await only enactment into
Jaw
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
oessity for curative legislation along lines
that will protect the interests of both
capital and labor. The governor says:
Accusation and recI1mination concern
ing existing abuses should now come to
an end. This was once necessary
phase In the development of present is
sues, but 1t Is so no longer. The people
now want action. They must have re-
suits. In all governmental affairs the
newly avail ened 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
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-
1ects, however, are now apparent Con-
dnuing this subject the governor says:
The principal weakness in the law Is
that under 1t nominations may be made
by the vote Of q mere plurality. IN many
cases this has been less than a major
aty OF the voters of party. Generally
spsalting, majority rule wherever prac-
ticable has been regarded as funda-
mental tenet in the government Of public
bodies and voluntary political associa-
tons 1t Is not secured by the primary
Jaw In its present form.
Dx1sttng 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
Ssrested in political ideas and legislative
programs than in party organization or
partisan candidates. AS result. con-
H1ict of opinion within each party is now
often smore intense than between the par
ties, and constant but almost imper-
cepttble shifting and interchange Of mem
bershtp IS taking place Thus the real
lines OF political cleavage frequently run.
not parallel to conventional party boun-
dar1es, but across them. In this situa-
don X has become very important that
the nomination Of party candidates and
determination of what shall constitute
party principles may be made HONESTLY
eno fairly and free from strategy or
Eubterfuge
''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 primary CAM
palgn. compact, cohesive and we'll drill4
cd minority may defeat It,
This Is condition which should not
90 permitted to continue. 1t flows from
defect In the present law which NAV be
renedied 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
oeed at times prove inestimable. I earn
esLy recommend the enactment of such
y law"
Corrupt Practises Act.
The excessive use of money in political
campaigns Is declared by the governor to
De an unnitigated evil and one that has
apparently increased with each succeed
sng year. On this subject he says:
LAVISH expenditure Of money through
political channels for the purpose OF in
uuenctng elections is a debauchine. ANA
corruptIng influence which has grown IN
prominence and baleful significance with
saen succeeding campaign. In any form
thls pracuce Is demoraliz1ng; but 1t be-
comes lntolerable when it reaches the
point or lawlessness and extrayaeance.
Hepeatedly single candidates and poIitI-
cal committees have expended vast snrns
or money, some times more than a him.
dred thousand dollars, most OF which
was designedly employed to mislead the
voters and befog the issues pending be-
TORE them. AS the law now stands every
S,,-tu - lot pubic office, whether he
hNes II or not, is placed at the mercy Of
men OF great wealth who PURPOSE nv
the power OF money, to annex To +ha,r.
possessions some desirable public Office :,
10 remedy this condition of affairs the
governor urges the enactment of an ef-
Gective corrupt practises act He saws.
such law should provide for nuhIi-
cauon by the state and at public ex-
penss OK necessary information concern
eli primary and general elections: r.
should place an absolute limit On the
amount OK money which may be spent nv
OF on oehan or any candidate for public
pLnce, inns amount to depend in each
case, or course upon the Importance of
xne offfoe and to bear some fair relation
70 tIe salary incident thereto; 1t should
pFoYaoe that no money whatever may be
spenS In political campaigns excent for
certain purposes which should ne enum-
Grated In the law; It should REQUIRE a
strict system OF public accountfnes of an
money discussed in political canpaisns
IN order 20 avoid evasion, and to fhe
emo mat every dollar spent may readily
pe Traced from the original contributor
70 the ultimate recipient; 1t should pro
mint all political activity whatever on
etthcT primary or general election aay.
aRd Z should compel compliance with its
provisions by rigorous penalties, includ-
ang Imprisonment and decentralization. NJ
candidates for public office"
WorksneH's Compensation Act
The executive declares that demand
mas grown UP for a more enlightened and
humane system OF compromising work
men injured in the course Of their en-
Payment. He SAYS
Losses due to industrial accidents 10
workmen now fall In the first instance
on the injured employee or in case OF
death upon his widow and orphan chill
dren. This burden can be shifted to the
shoulders OF the employer and thus upon
society as whole only by means Of a
lawsuit. AS the law now stands. in order
TO prevail IN such an action the plaintiff
must show that the injury for which he
seeks redress was due to the negligence
Of the employer. Even then his action
may be defeated by showing that he was
guilty of contributory negligence no mat
ter In how slight degree, that the acci-
dent was due to the ordinary risks Of the
employment which the law says he as
summed when he went to work, or that 1t
was due to the fault of fellow servant.
Eestsd by these rules probably in not
over fifteen per cent. of these personal
Eh1ury cases does valid right of action
exist.