Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-10-25

OF dollars. "A REFORM IN our procedure
ought to be worked out, II possible.
and 1t should not be confined to crimi-
nal procedure alone. There 10 room In
other directions to be IA Of technical
tiles, delays and expense. 4
in the interest of economy and
better results. 1t seems to me our
laws with reference to county and
township management might be great
ly improved. l venture to suggest on.
ly at this time. the probability Of the
wisdom of employment by the coun.
ty of thoroughly competent man. an
expert, to devote all of his time to the
conduct, supervision and management
Of the entire business Of the county.
Corporations employ expert business
managers in the interest OF economy
and profit and why should not the
counties of our Statef
THE question OF the shortening Of
our ballot and making more Of our
officers appointive should have candid
consideration and it seems to me
would result in promoting the public
welfare
There should he a reform in ouy
methods OF taxation, not with view
to increasing the burden Of taxes, but
to equalize it. Taxation in proportion
to ability TO pay only is just. Assess.
ments should be uniform and upon
actual values. II so, the rate would
be greatly decreased. as well also, II
Is believed, as the amount to be paid
Methods Of taxation may be very de-
trimental to a State Capital Is es-
sential to the development OF bust
ness and industries of all kinds and
taxation should be SO applied as foat
it would flow freely into the State
and not out of it.
"A workmans compensation law
should be enacted. It would be in the
interest of both the employer and EN-
ployed. 1t would relieve US of vast
amount of litigation, expense and de-
lay. 1t would expedite the other bust
ness OF the courts. 1t would give the
employed, as matter of fact; eQualt
ty before the law. AS an individual
standing alone, often without means
he has not been equal before the
law to the corporation, great o.
small, in whose employment he was
hurt The State by his side, in the
provisions of the compensation law.
gives him indeed equality before the
law. The position OF the strong and
the weak is equalized by the power Of
the State.
The Record Of Progress.
There is much public discussion
about social and industrial justice and
about putting the man above the dor
lar and property. Iowa has led In
these matters and has enacted into
law several years ago much that Is
now demanded, as II 1t were some
thing new. For instance, she has linn
tied the employment of children UNI
der IA and 16 years Of age, has pro
vided for the protection of the work
man against dangerous machinery
has provided that he must have safe
place to work and that it must b
under sanitary conditions, has a pure
food law, has provided for fire es
capes and that hotels must be clean
and sanitary and has enacted a State
fire marshal law for the protection Oh
the public, has provided for the pro
lection in many ways of men In the
mines, has protected the m0tOrman by
vestibules and the switchman by
lights, foot boards and grab rods
all these things in the interest of in
dustrial justice and in placing the
man above the dollar. As l asked
awhile ago, why should not the State
be just, helpful, humane, a positive
force for good? Iowa has been in
these things and many more l might
mention. Her legislation for ten
years has been along the lines Of the
best and most humanitarian thought
of the day. 1t has been in accord with
thn fh0,,uht onH cnirff that
is abroad in the world. 1t Is In a.
cord with the spirit that cries all men
up and no man down unless by hi
own worthlessness.
These things have mentioned are
some Of the things only that as me1
of Iowa we shall! have to do. They are
things to which the public men Oh
Iowa should devote themselves. They
are things for which shall stand ant
to which l shall give myself il an
elected governor of this State.
II am not unmindful of the, ques
lions of national import and that IN
many ways they affect the people Of
Iowa. But l shall not now enter up
on discussion of them. The only
one that really presents an issue IL
the tariff question. l may say that
protection Is the settled policy of this
country. Business is adjusted to It
The country has always prosperet
marvelously under protective tar
if. The business and wealth Of the
country has astonished the world IN
it's wondrous growth. There should
be some changes in the schedules IL
the way OF reducing them, but IL.
bring the country to revenue basis
only could not but be disastrous. NJ
such prosperity was ever before
known in this or any other country
Never before were so many comforts
enjoyed in the homes of all classes
Of people, and never before were
wage earners paid such good wages.
Republican administration in Iowa
has written into the statutes of thu
State in the last ten years laws
which have placed her in the very
forefront of progressive American.
States. Taking this legislation as .
whole, ic there man in Iowa wha
would repeal anything more, ! may
say, possibly, than a very insignia
cant part Of it? Could better ser
vice be expected of any other politt
cal party? Then why should any re-
publican think of a change. Rather
why should not men of other parties
come to the support of so competent
party clothed with such continued
and uneXampled success?"