Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-10-17

was much more than a half million
of dollars. A reform in our procedure
ought to be worked out, If possible,
and 1t should not be confined to crimi-
nal procedure alone. There Is room In
other directions to be rid of technical.
tiles, delays and expense.
''In the interest of economy and
better results, it seems to me our
laws with reference to county and
township management might be great
ly improved | 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 State?
"The question of the shortening OF
our ballot and making more of our
officers appointive should have candid
consideration and II seems to me
would result in promoting the public
welfare.
There should be reform in our
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
al IN he - k,,.
ness and industries of all kinds and
taxation should be so applied as that
it would flow freely into the State
and not out of it.
"a workmans compensation law
should be enacted. 1t 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 a matter of fact, equal
ty before the law. AS an individual
standing alone, often without means
he has not been equal before the
law to the corporation, great oil
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 oil
the State.
The Record Of Progress.
",rhere is much public discussion
about social and industrial justice and
about putting the man above the dol
lar and property. Iowa has led In
these matters and has enacted into
law several years ago much that II
now demanded, as If 1t were some
thing new. For instance, she has lin
tied the employment of children un
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 a safe
place to work and that 1t must b.
under sanitary conditions, has pur,
food law, has provided for fire es
capes and that hotels must be clear
and sanitary and has enacted State
fire marshal law for the protection Of
the public, has provided for the pro
lection in many ways of men In the
mines, has protected the motorman 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 / asked
awhile ago, why should not the State
be just, helpful, humane, positive
force for good? Iowa has been II
these things and many more / might
mention. Her legislation for ter
years has been along the lines of the
best and most humanitarian thought
OF the day. 1t has been in accord with
the new thought and new spirit thai
is abroad in the world 1t = IN az
cord with the spirit that cri~ all met
up and no man down unless by hit
own worthlessness.
These things have mentioned ar,
some of the things only that as mel
of Iowa We shall have to do. They are
| things to which the public men OF
Iowa should devote themselves. Thel
are things for which shall stand and
to which | shall give myself IL / an
elected governor of this State.
II am not unmindful of the ques
tons of national import and that IN
many ways they affect the people o.
Iowa. But shall not now enter up
on discussion of them. The onl!
one that really presents an issue Il
the tariff question. / may say thai
protection is the settled policy of thii
country. Business is adjusted to ii
The country has always prosperet
marvelously under protective tar
III. The business and wealth of tn,
country has astonished the world II
its wondrous growth. There shoult
be some changes in the schedules II
the way of reducing them, but Il
bring the country to revenue bash
only could not but be disastrous. NJ
such prosperity was ever befor'
known in this or any other country
Never before were so many comforts
enjoyed in the homes of all classe
of people, and never before were
wage earners paid such good wages
Republican administration in low
has written into the statutes of tt
State in the last ten years law
which have placed her in the yer,
forefront of progressive American
States. Taking this legislation as
whole, is there a man in Iowa VIII,
would repeal anything more, / ma.
say, possibly, than very insignia
cant part of it? Could better sci
vice be expected of any other politi
cal party? Then why should any re
publican think of a change Rather