The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-05-08
by Gurd M. Hayes.l


one or two exceptions the members
have packed up and gone to their re-
spective homes. Nearly 500 new laws
have been added to the statute books,
many of which have already been sign
ed by Gov. Ferris. Thus far the chief
executive has used his power to veto
sparingly and it is unlikely that
the official axe will fall again as Gov.
Ferris has declared that he Is well sat
isfied and claims that the legislature
must take the blame or the credit for
its work OF the present session.
In years TO come historians will prob
ably refer to the legislature of 1913
as the most radical in the history of
the state, as it has proposed more
changes TO the fundamental law Of the
state than any of its predecessors. Not
unlike the staid old village who greeted
the new Rip Van Wrinkle when he re-
turned from his twenty years sleep
in the Catskill mountains, some of
the conservative members of the
house and senate have witnessed the
radical changes in the constitution
with shaking of heads and muttered
inquiry as to what the world is COM
ing to.
In penning the history of the legisla-
ture of 1913 the majority party in the
legislature will probably receive big
share of the credit for the good laws
that have been enacted and will prob
ably reap the abuse If it is found that
poor legislation has been permitted
10 creep in. The republicans have at
tempted TO carry out most of their
platform pledges, and apparently have
succeeded, but the radical measures
could not have been passed without
the consent and cooperation of the
national progressives and the demo-
Gratis. Thus ii is apparent that all po-
litical factions can extract a few
ounces Of comfort from the perform
ances of their chosen representatives
during the past few months.
Had it not been for the willingness
of the national progressives and the
democrats to cooperate with the re-
publicans the initiative, referendum
and recall would not have been sub
mitted to the voters at the April cleo
ton. The republicans number "a in the
house, while it requires a two-thirds
votes of all members-elect or 67, TO
pass an amendment to the constitution
in the lower branch of the legislature
The recall amendment did not go as
far as to apply to the judiciary, but
all other elective officers will now
come under its provisions.
Early in the session the 1913 legis-
lature ratified the amendment TO the
federal constitution making for the
direct election of United States SEN
ators. The names OF the successful
candidates for the nominations for
United States senator at the primary
election in 1916 will appear on the reg
ular election ballot together with the
candidates for governor and other
state officers. Therefore it will not be
necessary for the legislature to par
ticipate in any further election OF
United States senators. The people
hold the final key to the situation as
they will hereafter be able to decide
both the nomination and the election.
United States Senator Charles f.
Townsend was the first in Michigan to
be nominated under the primary sys-
tenn, and United States Senator Will
lam Alden Smith was the last to be
elected by the Legislature. In Lansing
they are recalling the famous contest
in 1905 when the legislature was the
arbiter and elected William Alden
Smith after one Of the bitterest con-
tests ever staged in the Capital City.
Two important amendments have
been made to the primary election law
in other respects. The enrolment feat
ure has been abolished and the is per
cent clause has been eliminated. Here
after when voter visits the polls on
primary day he will be permitted to
vote If he has complied with the law
relative to registration. II will not be
necessary to disclose his party affilia-
ton in order TO pass judgment on the
candidates. The names of all
will be printed on a single
ballot. The voter is required to make
a cross at the top of the ticket he
wishes to vote. II there is more than
one candidate for an Office he shall
vote for one. However, after he has
made a cross at the top of his party
column he cannot vote for any can
didate of another party. II he does this
the ballot Is invalid. This is supposed
10 prevent the voters of one party from
dipping into the nominations of an
other organization. This bill was
framed and put through the legisls-
ture ny Senator W. Frank James, OF
Hancock, Houghton county.
Then. too, the legislature passed the
Copley corrupt practices act, limiting
the campaign expenditures OF candi-
dates for public once and requiring
that they will submit an itemized &C
count of their expenses when the