Semi-weekly herald., 1912-05-27

lntSt now llliitiotiy
critics ana franchises. These men and
corporations did away with the annoy
ance of laws and law officers by also
organizing and appropriating the en-
, tire machinery Of state government
throughout every department and in
GLIDING party organizations. 1t is
these gentlemen and their successors
who are responsible for the great in
novations now necessary to curb their
| threatening attitude toward our po
litical institutions. They must bear
the responsibility for the rapid
changes pending which are to still
more profoundly affect the political
| institutions of the state. 1t is these
men who have made necessary the ini-
| tiative and the referendum. 1t is
| these men who have made certain the
recall of elective officers, including
| Judges. 1t is these men who have
deprived the legislature of all respect,
/ and threaten to make of it an i'm
potent shadow of what our fathers in
tended. 1t is these men who have i'm
poverished the public service of the
state by crushing and excluding from
chance for honorable public service,
| independent-m minded men. 1t is these
men who have made the honor of men
a commodity of common traffic and
at times have even made the state
capitol a shameless and disgraced
marketplace where loyalty to oaths of
office and the welfare of the state,
have been exchanged for a servile,
cringing dependency to private mas
ters; it is these men who have made
the Republican party when entrusted
with power, party of puppet men,
enacting puppet laws. 1t is these men
who, by their sinister, pervading pow
er, have kept our state laws in the
back eddies of frontier age, and ig-
nored the need for progressive legis-
lation with which enlightened states
are meeting changed social and econ
omic conditions.
1t is our first duty as Republicans
in the fight ahead to drive these mer
from the councils of the party, ano
when that is accomplished, if power
to do so is given us, to permanently
bar them out so far as we can by GER
tain statutory enactments directly for.
mulated to that end. In this connec.
tion we propose:
/. An amendment to the present
primary law by which party assem-
blies or conventions shall be abol
ished.
2. A stringent, comprehensive, cor
rupt practices act.
3. The non-partisan election of al
judges, candidates for these judicia
offices to appear on the ballot with
out party designation and their elec
ton to occur at times Independent o1
other political campaigns.
We have failed to obtain high ideal.
of character, equipment and independ
ence in judicial offices. 1t is a gain
toward better conditions if we tax,
this first step and force an undivided
public attention at the time of Sc
lection of judges and free these off
cials from party allegiance and nat
ural party obligations.
Il 4. A public utilities commission
: vested with comprehensive powers t,
regulate public service and transpor
tation corporations, included anon,
{ which should be:
: (a) The power to limit capitaliza
/ tion and bonded Indebtedness.
(b) Power to regulate rates an
service.
, (c) Power to prohibit passes, re
: bates, franks and all gratuities.
/ 5. The recall of all elective off
q cials and members of important com
e missions who hold office by appoint
t | ment
r 6. A presidential preference pri
mary law.
Z. The reapportionment of legisla
tive districts in the state based upo
an equitable distribution of popula
: ton.
8. Another subject urgently de
e manding just settlement is the ques
5 ton of injuries and death suffere
S by workmen in their employment. Elk
, isting conditions with regard to EN-
! Ployer's liability and compensation 70
r workmen's injuries are so unjust tina
= there should be a remedial actor
Theodore Roosevelt aptly states tn
I case as follows:
''ln what is called the employers
, liability legislation, other industria
: countries have accepted the principl
that the industries must bear the mon
! etary burden of its human sacifice
: and that the employe injured shall
, have fixed and definite sum-"
: Proper legislation directed to thi
5 result should be promptly enacted.
7 Finally, it is imperative that W,
make a determined effort to secur,
Legislature in both branches, whicl