Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-01-29
GOVERNOR 6 y CLARKE
Delivers Inaugural Address 10 Thirty
Fifth Iowa General Assembly .s

Delivers Inaugural Address 10 Thirty
Fifth Iowa General Assembly .s
H..4 -,
Members Of the Thlrty-fifth General
Assembly and Fellow.cltizsns:
acknowledge my very great In.
debtedness to the people Of Iowa.
The obligation at this moment pro.
foundly impresses me. 1t is not with
any sense OF triumph that l enter
upon the duties of the office into
which am this day indicted, but
with deep sense of it's duties, the
wide possibilities OF its influence and
my inability to approach the ideal OF
fitness and performance. II can
bue be the servant of all. II / can
With the help Of others contribute
something to the common good, II l
can assist in making Iowa more dis
tinguished still among the States for
the disturbances and wisdom OF her
laws and the cleanness Of her politi-
cal life, that will be something.
am not unmindful of the circum.
stances Of my election. 1t is unseen
ly to boast, but If it were not
should have nothing Of which to
boast. I want to extend to the gen.
tlemen who contested the election
with me my congratulations upon the
fact that they were such men as
could command the greater prefer
ence OF so many, many thousands OF
our fellow-citizens. Notwithstanding
this fact, now venture to invoke the
good will and support Of all OF the
people Of the State. Perfection Of
discernment and infallibility of judg-
ment are not the endowments Of any
man, and. therefore, in dealing with
conflicting interests and opinions
shall inevitably make mistakes.
The thought which seems to under
lie practically all present.day politi-
cal discussion is the thought of the
good of all. 1t Is the thought. as it
seems to me, that government Is not
alone for governing, but for the bet.
torment OF the conditions OF the gov
s.
philosopher. who said government is
for the. good Of mankind" and Her
bert Spencer said that is the best
definition of government I know OF.
The man above the dollar, Social
and industrial JUSTICE" The law St
.tEg old conditions Is inadequate to
NEe new. All these things naturally
suggest
A Werkman's Compensation Act,
which sincerely hope will be passed
ut " this session. The commission
authorized by the last general assem-
bly,. after a thorough Investigation
and study Of the subject, has reported
a bill for consideration at this ses.
sion. So far as have been able to
discover. wherever the subject has
had thorough and dispassionate study
the same conclusion has been reached
by both employer and employee, and
that is that the industrial world to-
day presents such entirely different
conditions from that of. say, seventy
Ave years ago, that the principles Of
law then and since for the most part
applied in Iowa with reference to in
dustrial accidents are entirely made
quate, inapplicable, unjust and waste
.tful to both parties. In order that
we may enjoy the conveniences. COM
forts, even Injuries, brought to hui
man conditions by the wonderfully
rapid development OF modern Indus
trialism there Is the annual inevitable
sacrifice OF human life and the great
army of the MANNED. And this sacri-
nee falls upon those least able to
bear 1t from a pecuniary standpoint.
The lives Of these people are along
dangerous, hazardous lines and they
are taking the risks for us all, bear
ing the burdens that common good
may be enjoyed by those who assume
no risks. Justice dictates, the COM
monest feelings Of humanity demand
and the sentiment OF our universal
brotherhood cries out, Bear ye one
another's burdens" And so they
ought to be laid upon us all as a part
OF the cost of production. There
should be no striving after advantage
on either side. The only question is,
what is fair, just and right with re-
ference to this great problem. Our
manufacturing industries are grow
ing wonderfully and 1t must be re-
membered that they must compete
with conditions in other States. II
we could have conditions that would
invite manufacturing capital it would
be Of great advantage. But material
development must not be at the ex-
pense Of human rights and justice.
Iowa, in line with the most enlighten-
en- thought, should make the best So
tuition possible at this time of this
question. The great growth OF Col
.lectivism naturally suggests also
Public Utilities Bill.
The doctrine OF laissez faire can
have application only in the long run
at the expense OF the public welfare.
The state has the power to control
all public corporations, but, it seems
to me, that it's Intervention should
only be to supervise and regulate in
the interest of the common good. The
local municipality shcclld govern and
control SO far as it can. But there
come times when it Is not equal to
the situation. 1t is weaker than the
corporation. The smaller cities es.
pecially often cannot cope with the
syndicate. 1t has not and cannot OBJ
tain the experts and legal ability and
has no organized power. The State
should add her strength to the weak
ness OF the weak and bring about
equality. I think this legislature can
render a great public service by pass
Ing a well-considered public utilities
bill, and that it ought to do 1t.
B The Good Roads Problem.
For thirty years the discussion Of
the good roads problem has been 60
ropar el,Ahy 1,,- man RIM 90 r