Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-10

to the state convention which may be
called upon to nominate candidates
for state Offices. through . county
CONVENTION. Were writing . primary
law I should provide that tho dele.
gates to the state convention should
be elected at q direct primary. would
forbid tho use Of proxies and would
then nominate candidates for state
offices by convention, composed OF
the men whom the people had Sc
lected.
am not in favor Of the repeal Of
the primary law but am in favor Of
such amendments as will make it
fair and just. That widespread oppo.
sition exists az to the entire system
there can be no room for dispute. but
whether this opposition shall cease
and the law become a permanent part
of the statute Of our state depends
upon whether it shall be freed from
its many abuses and Objectionable
features.
Since there can be no doubt but
that when the time comes for the
selection Of delegates to the national
convention Of 1912 question will DO
raised as to whether the delegates
selected at the recent primary shall
constitute the county conventions to
name delegates to the state conven-
tons which are to select delegates
to the national conventions, deem
1t expedient to call your attention to
the fact that much difference of opin-
ion exists with reference thereto.
Those who hold that the primary
delegates chosen last year will consti-
tute the county convention base their
conclusions upon the language Of Sec
ton 10s7-a25 of the supplement to
the code as amended which reads:
'The term of ONCE of such delegates
shall begin on the day following the
final canvass Of the votes by the
board of supervisors and shall con-
tinue for two years and until their
SUCCESSORS are elected" while those
conclusions upon the fact that no
where is there any reference in tho
primary law to any thing regarding
delegates to a national convention or
to the convention itself, and they
further argue that these are not sub
jects Of legislation for the reason that
the national conventions and COM
mittees of each party determine for
themselves how conventions shall be
constituted and how the delegates
thereto shall be chosen personally
have never believed that the pri-
mary law applies in any respect to
delegates to national conventions or
to any thing pertaining to the selec-
ton of such delegates. call this
matter to your attention not for the
purpose Of making recommendation,
but simply that you may determine
what. IL any. consideration you may
care to give to it.
Abolish Printer and Binder.
In my opinion the time has come
when you should give the most seri-
Gus consideration to placing all state
printing and binding in the hands OF
the executive council. With the en-.
larged facilities Of the various estab-
lishments Of the state for doing the
work. there seems to be very little
need Of continuing the Offices Of state
printer and state binder. The coun.
Gil can very readily handle this work
through the once Of the secretary.
who now has charge Of the paper
and other stock used and must keep
. constant check upon the same,
while the Office of the secretary of
state must check all tho work done.
The abolition of these Offices of
printer and binder might necessitate
the employment Of competent man
to aid in looking after the work of
printing and binding, but even then
it would, in my opinion, prove a great
saving to the state and the work
would be turned out much more
promptly.
Commission for Public Utilities.
Two years ago recommended to
the general assembly the creation of
a public utilities commission. or the
enlargement of the powers Of the
railway commission. I then suggest
ed that the membership Of the rail.
way commission, IL clothed with the
powers referred to, be increased to
i've and that the added members be
appointed by the governor, and as the
terms Of the present members expire.
their successors shall be appointed. !
desire to renew that recommendation
and to say that, In my opinion, a
commi:sion clothed with such power
and authority as is given by the laws
Of the state Of New York or Wiscon.
sin would prove Of great benefit to
the state.
The institutions under the manage.
ment of the board Of control demand
your most careful consideration.
You will find in the report Of the
board. recently made public, COM
prehensive review and discussion OF
the affairs and necessities of the var
ious Institutions and l earnestly re.
quest that you make q careful study
Of this report.
Some Of the suggestions made BY
the board, as we'll az some not re-
ferred 10 in tie report, desire to
call to your attention. Especially
would I impresa upon Won the neces.