The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-07
GOVERNOR EBERHART
" SENDS a MESSAGE TO
THE STATES SOLONS


provided for by the previous regular
session Of the legislature
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the State of Minnesota:
You have been convened in eXtraor-
binary session at this time for the pur-
pose of enacting into law three meas
ures demanded by the people of this
state, to-wit:
l. A statewide direct primary law
for the nomination of all elective pub
lie officials, 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 legis-
lative districts as required by and in
accordance with the constitution OF
the state.
These three measures were fully
considered by you at your last session
and you are therefore thoroughly ia
miliar with the subject matter of each.
Hence no elaborate or detailed dis
cussion 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 pioneer in the
enactment of direct primary legisla-
ton. The first step was taken in
1899, when a direct primary law was
enacted for Hennepin county
at the following session-1901-thi
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 date it has governed our political
action in making party nominations
tor 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 pub
lie favor would have the hardihoOd to
Propose it's repeal. 1t simply substi-
tutes the direct action of the people
themselves for the system of delegat-
ed authority exemplitied in cOnven-
tons. 1t makes public ficials direct
ly responsible to the people and it
makes the people directly responsible
for the selection of their representa-
tives. 1t eliminates the domination
of special interests by placing the
people-who are the source of all polit-
ical power-in direct control.
The insistent demand of the people
for the right of direct and unhindered
participation in all matters of govern
ment is attested by their answering
support of the existing direct primary
law and by the passage at your last
session of law for the direct nomi-
nation and practically direct election
of United States senators. The re-
cent action of the congress of the
United States in proposing an amend
ment to the federal constitution pro-
viding for the election of United States
senators directly by the people is a
further proof of the settled purpose of
the people to exercise their political
power directly and not through repre-
sentative bodies. ...
Under the constitution you are the
lawmaking 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 details
of the proposed legislation. Whether
or not the direct primary law shall
be non-partisan, what provisions it
shall contain as to second choice, just
how it shall be applied to the selec-
ton Of delegates, to national conven-
tons and many other questions Of
detail which will arise in the consid-
Grafton 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 re-
lying on your wisdom and patriotism,
! earnestly recommend the prompt
Iassage of law providing for the
nomination of all public officials by a
direct vote of the people.
Corrupt Practices Law.
To pass direct primary law with.
out enacting a stringent and effective
corrupt practices act would be to
merely adopt the nomenclature of re-
form and reject the reform itself. The
present law on the subject-passed
over seventeen years ago-has, accord
ing to common report and belief, been
more honored in the breach than
observance" and should be supple
mented by law that absolutely elimi-
mates the improper use of money in
conducting campaigns for nomination
and election.
Legislative Reapportionment.
Section 90, article w. of the consti.
tuition of the state provides: The
legislature shall provide by law for an
enumeration of the inhabitants of this
state in the year 1865 and every tenth
year thereafter. At their first session
after each enumeration SO made and
also at their first session after each
enumeration made by the authority of
the United States the legislature shall
have the power to prescribe the bounds
of congressional, senatorial and rep
resentative districts, and to apporton
anew the senators and representatives
among the several districts, according
to the provisions of section 2 of this
article"