The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-02
WILSON'S RECORD
. AS Governor
,

Every Pledge Enacted Into Laws
Along With Many Other Reforms.
Wilson a. Governor q Fair Sample Of
What Hs Will Do a. President.
Dy JUDGE THOMAS Il. OWEN.
Muskosss, Okla.
The Democratic state platform in the
New jersey campaign Of 1910 promised
i've particular reforms, each Of them
radical and each of them apparently
academic. They were: A new election
law to take the control of nomina-
lions out of the hands of the bosses;
an employers liability law, just to
both employer and employee; 4 cor
rupt practices act. to stop the wrong
full or excessive use Of money in cleo
lions: q public utilities commission,
with actual and not merely theoretical
power, and law regulating the cold
storage Of food These five things
, were promised in the Democratic plat
form.
New Jersey had been a machine
ruled state for years. and nobody took
platform promises seriously. Nobody
expected them to be redeemed. A po-
litical party platform was like street
car platform-something to get in on.
What They Said Would Happen.
When the election was over New
Jersey found that it had a Democratic
governor, q senate Republican by IL
to 8 and lower house Democratic by
AZ to 1& OF course the Republicans,
controlling the senate, could block any
legislation they desired. They deter
mined at once to stop all the bills Of
the governors program. and, what is
more. the old time Democratic ma
chine leaders decided not to let the
bills pass the lower house. That was
the situation when the legislature met
4 in January.
p When it adjourned in April every
one of the Eve promises made in the
Democratic platform we're laws on the
statute books Of New Jersey, and
along with them were several other
new reform laws.
Credit Due to Wilson.
That the redemption Of those plat
form promises was due solely to the
courage and practical common sense
Of Governor Woodrow Wilson Is ad-
@rnitted by everybody in New. Jersey,
Republican or Democrat, friend or foe.
These are some of the laws that
were passed by that legislature: An
election law that provided for all NOM
nations from president down to con-
stable to be made In direct primaries
held by the state authorities. that
eliminates the power of bosses by
abolishing the old party machinery,
that provides for all elections to be
held by officers who have passed a
civil service examination to show their
fitness and that requires voters to
sign their names so as to make re
.peater' liable to punishment for for
gerry.
An employers liability law that
does away with damage suits. When
an employee is injured the law says
just how much damages he is entitled
to for that particular injury. and it Is
paid. The employees are benefited be-
cause they do not have to wait for
years to get Justice: the employers. be-
cause It enables them to know what
they have to pay and relieves them of
heavy legal expenses.
Some Of tho Laws Passed.
A corrupt practices act that regu-
lates the expenditure of campaign
funds. requires publication to be made
and makes the penalty of violation the
forfeiture of the Office. A candidate
for governor may spend $500 under
this law and no more. Candidates for
congress may spend $500. candidates
for county Offices $500. and 80 on down
the list The law goes further and
prohibits intimidation = it prohibits
printing political sentiments on pay
envelopes; It prohibits the posting of
political handbills in factories and all
other means that employers may take
to influence their employees In poll.
tics 1-. s't
A public utilities commission was
created with complete power to regu-
late railways. street car lines. tele.
phone companies and all other public
utilities in the interest Of the public. q
power backed up with the machinery
to make It effective.
A law was passed prohibiting the