Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1913-01-07

looked or omitted from the party prom
Uses. In this view of the case I shall
invite your special attention to certain
matters not contained in the platform
of orr party, which, in my Judgment
should be carefully considered by you
| in your forthcoming deliberations.
| Direct Election Of Senators.
At the last session of the present
congress there was passed a bill pro-
viding for the submission to the legis-
latures of the several states of a pro-
posed amendment to the constitution
! of the United States, providing for the
direct election of United States sena-
tors. This amendment is before you
for you. action and SHOULD receive your
early consideration. The party Is
pledged to the approval OF this amend
ment.
! Workingmen's Compensation Act.
| The Republican party is committed
by its platform pledges. and declara-
tions tc the Passage of a comprehen-
sive worlingmen's compensation act.
to the end that persons engaged in
hazardous and semi hazardous occupa-
tons may receive prompt and just COM
pensation for injuries received in the
course of their employment. There
| should be no failure to enact this prom
| Use into law, and the law so enacted
should be clear in its demands and pro
visions, so that there may be no am
biguity or uncertainty in It's interpre-
tation. 1t should provide in a Just and
equitable manner for the automatic adj
justmeEt of claims growing out Of in
juries received In the course of en-
! ployment. 1t should leave no ground
of necessity for the employment OF an
attorney or other Intermediary, for the
purpose of securing or protecting the
rights of the workingman, or Of his
family in the event of his DEATH and at
the same time it should be Just and
equitable in its provisions relating to
the employer. Some means should be
found, for the present at least, of car
rying into effect the provisions of this
law without creating any new office or
offices under the state government.
Sale Of State Lands.
I suggest that proposed constitu-
tional amendment should be submitted
by you. providing for the more rapid
sale OF our state lands. Under exist
ing limitations as to sale nearly two
centuries will elapse ere they are all
sold, and In the meantime the state
will be deprived of the immense bene-
fits that are to be expected from the sale
of these lands and the placing of the
money which will be derived therefrom
in the funds that are maintained for
the benefit of our state institutions
The present constitutional limitation is
entirely too small. The sale of state
lands should be provided for in annual
ly increasing quantities to the end that
the burdens Of taxation may be re-
duced by the building up of q large
interest producing fund which will en-
tirely relieve lis of taxation for the
support of our schools and which, In
turn, ran be loaned out to the farmers
and home builders of the state for the
purpose Of developing individual hold
ings within the state.
The Direct Primary Law.
Experience in two campaigns with
our direct primary law clearly demon
strates that 1t is still far from perfect.
and / suggest that YOU give the matter
OF its further amendment your most
careful study and attention The op-
Grafton of this law should be made
more generally satisfactory. and this
must be done II the principle of direct
nominations Is to be retained
There Is, for one thing, very general
criticism Of the time of The yesr at
which the primary election is held. I
suggest that this question be carefully
considered by you, and If it is found
possible to select a time which would
be more convenient for greater4 part
nJt 1rf,
adopted. The one thing to be borne in
mind, whethei. you desire to advance
the date of tho primary so as to permit
the people to choose delegates to con-
ventions at the time they nominate
state and county officers, or whether
you desire to provide for n presidential
preference yote. should be the limiting
of primary elections to one In each
biennial term. This is absolutely nee
essary on account of the great expense
attending such elections.
Against the proposal to hold the cleo
ton earlier in the year must be set the
unquestioned fact that the holding of
the primary election at an earlier date
will seriously cripple the efficiency of
the public service. All state and county
officers who desire to succeed them
selves in office. or to be elected to an
other office, are now under the neces-
sity of making campaign extending
over some months prior to the holding
of the primary election; and after the
primary election is over their thoughts
naturally turn to the coming general
election 1t will thus DO seen that
holding the primary earlier In the year
will have the effect of reducing the
period of service In office during which
an incumbent can reasonably be sup
posed to give his time and his best
energies to the state. On general prin-
ciples short, active campaign Just pre-
ceding the general election will be most
conducive to efficiency N public service
Would Draw Party Lines.
But whether or not any other change
is made in the primary law, there is at
least enc absolutely necessary amend
ment. and thu. is an amendment which
will prevent The voting nv members of