The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-06-07
GOV. EBERHART
SENDS MESSAGE
STATES HIS VIEWS TO SPECIAL
SESSION OF MINNESOTA
LEGISLATURE.
ASKS THREE NEW LAWS
Primary for All Elective Offices, Strin-
gent Corrupt Practices Act and
Reapportionment Bill Are
Recommended.

st. Paul.-Governor A. o. Eberhart
sent the following to the special ses.
sion of the Minnesota legislature:
To the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives of the State of Minnesota:
You have been convened in extra
ordinary session at this time for the
purpose of enacting into law three
measures demanded by the people of
this state, to-wit:
1. A statewide direct primary law
for the nomination of all elective off.
Gals, national and state.
2. A stringent and effective corrupt
practices act, applicable to both the
nomination and election of all public
officials.
3. A reapportionment of the Iegis-
Iative districts as required by and in
accordance with the constitution of
the state.
These three measures were fully
considered by you at your last ses.
sion and you are therefore thoroughly
familiar with the subject matter of
each. Hence no elaborate or detailed
discussion of them is required of me
at this time, but brief reference to
each measure is due and proper
Direct Primary Law.
Minnesota has been q pioneer in the
enactment of direct primary legisla.
ton. The first step was taken in 1899,
when a direct primary law was en-
acted for Hennepin county.
At the following session-1901-this
law was amended in some particulars,
extended to the whole state and in
cluded all positions except state Off
GERS and certain minor officials. Since
that cate it has governed our politi-
cal action in making party nomina-
tons for Office.
Tried by more than ten years of
actual experience in this state, the
direct primary law has so established
Itself in the judgment and convictions
Of the people that no aspirant for
public favor would have the hardihood
TO propose it's repeal. 1t simply sub
stitutes the direct action of the peo-
pie themselves for the system of dele
gated authority exemplified in conven-
lions. 1t makes puBlic officials direct
ly responsible to the people and it
makes the people directly RESPONSE
BILE for the selection of their repre-
sentatives. 1t eliminates the domino
lion of special interests by placing the
people-who are the source of all po-
itical power-in direct control.
The insistent demand of the peo-
pie for the right of direct and I'M
hindered participation in all matters
Of government is attested by their I'M
swerving support of the existing di-
rect primary law and by the passage
at yCIr last session of law for the
direct nomination and practically di-
rect election of United States sena-
tors. The recent action of the con-
gress of the United States In propos-
ing an amendment to the federal con-
stitution providing for the election of
United States senators directly by the
people is a further proof of the set
tied purpose of the people to exercise
their political power directly and not
through representative bodies.
Under the constitution, you are the
tawmaking power of this state, and it
is primarily your right and duty to
determine what the law shall be, and
in reaching that determination it is
for you to consider the various de-
tails of the proposed legislation.
Whether or not the direct primary
law shall be non-partisan, what pro-
visions it shall contain as to second
choice, Just how it shall be applied
to the selection of delegates to ma
tional conventions and many other
questions of detail which will arise in
the consideration of this measure, are
for you to primarily determine, and
it is not my purpose to suggest any
particular plan of direct primary, but
confidently relying on your wisdom
and patriotism, | earnestly recon-
mend the prompt passage of law
providing for the nomination of all
public officials by direct vote of the
people.
Corrupt Practices Law.
To pass a direct primary law with
out enacting stringent and enec-
tive corrupt practices act would be
to merely adopt the nomenclature of
reform and reject the reform itself.
The present law on the subject-passed
over seventeen years ago-has. ac-
cording to common report and belief,
been more honored in the breach
than observance" and should be sup
plemented by a law that absolutely
eliminates the improper use of money