The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-01-24
Kansas Executive Sends Document
10 State Legislature.
MANY REFORMS ARE ADVOCATED
Election of Senators and Federal
Judges by Direct Vote Favored
Four Amendments to the State
Constitution Recommended.

houses of the state legislature:
| Gentlemen of the Legislature:
Under and by virtue of the constitu-
tion of the state of Kansas it is the
duty of the governor to communicate
| 10 you such information and to recon-
! mend to you such legislation as he
may deem proper and eXpedient touch
| ing state affairs.
therefore call your attention to the
fact that the congress of the United
States has submitted to the several
states an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the election
Of United States senators by direct
vote of the people. | recommend that
you promptly ratify the same and
authorize the certification OF your ratl-
ication to the Secretary of State OF
these United States.
In conformity with deep-seated
conviction of the Democratic party, |
would urge that this legislature pass
concurrent resolution instructlng
our senators and requesting our men,
bers of the lower branch of congress
to submit a resolution to the congress
of the United States of America, pray
ing for a amendment to our federal
constitution, providing for an the eiec-
ton of federal judges by direct vote
Of the people and for a term period
not exceeding six years.
call to your attention the fact that
almost every member of this legisla-
ture was elected upon platform
pledge to submit to the people of Kan
sas, for their adoption or rejection,
amendments to our constitution pro-
yiding for the initiative and referen-
dunn in matters of legislation and for
the recall of unfaithful public officials.
These and all other platform pledges
on which any member of this legisla-
ture was elected are Solemn contracts
with the people and should be as
sacredly performed as any contract,
the performance of which is demanded
by law and business honor | recon-
mend that the amendments be framed
III clear anu tADlltlI lclSlaEC anu III
terms which will make them effective
" conformed to the will Of the people
also recommend that you submit
10 the people of this state an amend
ment to the constitution providing for
uuadrennial election of state and coun-
ty officers. Our elections are mat
ter Of great expense, not only to the
public, but to candidates, and in, my
opinion the public interest will be
served by relief from frequent political
agitation. Whether disqualification to
hold office two successive terms should
be added, I leave to your wisdom.
I believe in state aid in building
roads and bridges, and recommend to
section of article II of the oonstitu-
ton be submitted to the people, which
sholl read as follows:
"The state shall never be party in
carrying ON any work of internal i'm
provement, except highways and
bridges"
In this connection I call your atten-
ton to the fact that but three consti-
tutional amendments can be submitted
at a general election. l have recon-
mended four. The initiative and ref
erendum and the recall amendments
are imperatively demanded by the
people and pledged by you. What the
other amendment submitted shall be
leave to your wisdom without the ex-
preston of choice by me.
call the especial attention Of the
Democratic members of this legisla-
ture to the fact that the election Of
United States senators by direct vote
Of the people is fundamental doc
trine Of our party. No matter whether
you signed statement Number One or
not, your personal preference must not
stand in the way of your party obliga-
tons to cast your vote for the candi-
date VINO received plurality Of the
votes in the state for United States
senator at the recent general election.
I therefore urge every Democratic
member of this legislature to vote for
William H. Thompson for United
States senator.
The complications growing out of
the recent election point to the
necessity for change in our election
laws. While l adhere to my faith in
the system of nominations by primary
elections, feel that our present pri-
mary law Is unsatisfactory and made
quate 1t is cumbersome and expen-
sive. Members Of one party, or of no
party, may and have taken part in
the nomination of the candidates OF a
party with which they have never az
nliated. This is wrong, and should be
remedied by some sort of registration
in which party utilization is declared a
reasonable time in advance of the pri-
mary.
I also recommend the adoption Of
the Massachusetts form OF ballot"
for which / contended at the last two
sessions of the Kansas legislature.
This seems an opportune time to make
the change, inasmuch as at least ESQ.,
900 women, most of whom have never
before cast a ballot, viii vote at the
Rsxt general election. This will great