The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-01-17
GOVERNORS URGE
DIRECT PRIMARY
FOss and Marshall Among Off
Gals Who Endorse Rule
in Elections.

BOSTON, January 5.--Eugene N.
Foss, native Of Vermont, a business
man Of Massachusetts,, realized long
cherished wish today in assuming the
Office Of governor of the commonwealth.
The inaugural ceremonies, before
joint convention of the senate ana
house, were in the nature of Demo
cratic celebration. Governor Foss also
made another record by delivering an
inaugural address that was the shortest
and plainest in the memory of the old
est offieeholders beneath the gilded
dome.
Looking upon the members of the
legislature, the .judges of the courts,
the State commissioners and a host OF
invited guests, and occasionally glane-
ing up to those of his family, including
his brother, Congressman George L.
Foss, of Illinois, the new governor ex-
pressed his ideas ON State affairs and
suggested many reforms.
He told the legislature it should con-
slider direct nominations, the initiative
and referendum, the rights of labor to
organize and be protected, the constitu-
tional amendment of the income tax
and reforms in elections. Mr.. Foss
said:
Crisis Reached.
"We have reached crisis in the
affairs of this commonwealth. 1t is a
crisis which our form of government
is facing today not only in Massa-
chusetts but in every State of the
Union. This crisis is all the more mark
ed in our State because Massachusetts,
is the birthplace of popular govern
ment. The people in all sections of
the country have lost confidence in
many of their public servants. The
dictatorship by political bosses and by
representatives of special interests is
hotly resented, for these men desire to
control public servants and to direct
legislation to their own ends.
"This usurpation of power can only
be ended by the people taking into
their own hands the direction and con-
troll Of their government. The first step
is to abolish the boss and all his
agencies, the caucus, the nominating
convention and all political machinery
which intervenes between the people
and the government. All candidates
for public office, without exception,
must be chosen by the people through
the direct primary. To that direct pri-
mary must be joined the power of re-
call, so that any public servant who
proves recreant to his trust may be
Immediately dismissed"
Control Of Labor.
Governor Foss then said labor should
be exempt from unfair injunction re-
strictions, that compensation of labor
should be above bare living and that
the hours of labor should be rigidly
defined and limited
Home rule for cities was advocated
and the recommendation was made
that all municipalities within radius
of ten miles be connected into great
er Boston, organized on the borough
plan.
t'The use Of money in our elections
has become a great evil" said the gov
ernor. for it amounts TO a substantial
denial of the privilege Of man OF
moderate means to aspire to any pub
lie office in the commonwealth; or else
it overwhelmingly tempts him to make
his secret peace with those private in
,terests which will finance his campaign
if he will serve them in Office. To cor
rect this evil it is necessary to prohibit
those methods of campaigning which
cost so much money
The governor recommended legisla-
tion calling for the popular nomination
of United States senators.