Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-04-03

and particularly candidates for COVER
nor and legislative positions. to make
public any pledges given by them IN
advance of oleotion 70 support any
particular class Of legislation. 10
recommended By Governor Crucs IN .
supplementary message sent to the
legislature. On that subject he says:
mo man believes more nrmly than
in the doctrine that men running
for ONCE should state their positions
on public questions. Each voter has
q right to know what Q candidate for
ONCE win do when confronted with
q public question after his election,
but there has grown up in this state
and in many other states of the union
q condition that 10 indefensibls and
subvsrsive Of the best purposes OF
government. Candidates for ONCE are
frequently singled out by individuals
or organizations and are secretly
pledged to support certain policies and
measures In the event Of election.
These pledgss are frequently made
without giving due consideration. a.
though their judgment may be against
the proposition after deliberation. they
are confronted with this ante-elsction
pledge. which men usually feel i'm.
pslled to respect and observe.
Policy 10 indsfsnslbIe.
This policy 10 indefensibls from
any standpoint. II men are to pledge
themselves to support any measure
in advance Of election, they ought to
be compelled to make public that
pledge, 80 that all Of the voters inter.
ested may be advised OF the position
taken and vote accordingly"
The governor asks that more power
be given to him In. connection with
the investigation Of appointees against
whom charges Of ofiiciaI misconduct
are made in view Of the fact that II
has been found impossible to compel
the attendance Of witnesses at IN In
vestigation Of that sort.
He urges much more stringent laws
on the subject Of gambling. More
stringent laws In regard to concealed
weapons and Sunday observance are
also recommended.
In connection with the matter OF
abolishing and consolidating ofiices,
the governor states that he does not
desire to restrict the legislators to the
ofices specifically mentioned In his
first message. The way 's opened for
any constitutional amendments that
may be considered desirable.
A favorable Recommendation 10
made In regard to the marriage license
bill backed BY the club women Of the
state. which was passed by the house
at the regular session.
On the subject of the taxation Of
mortgages. Governor Cruce recon.
mends that they be exempted entirely
from taxation, stating that even the
proposition OF . hlins tar would be
unsatisfactory. % the borrower would
have to pay II in the end. Other
recommendation are for the adoption
of an adequate highway code and, fur
ther legislation for the protection Of
Indian estates
Hearings Granted On Pending eiIIs.
A hearing was granted by Governor
Crucs on the congressional redistrict-
ing bill passed recently by the legis.
lature. but to date no intimation has
been given a. to what his action will
be on the measure. A number Of leg.
islators urged its approval Some anx.
iety has been expressed by advo-
Gates Of the measure and the rumor
was circulated that az the bill was
PASSED pursuant to the directions Of
congress. the governor has no juris.
diction over the proposition. Cover.
nor Cruce. however. believes that his
constitutional power to approve or
veto holds good over this bill Just as
much - over the other measures
which have been sent to him by the
| legislature during its session.
The other more important measures
still awaiting action include the bill
to abolish the fish and game depart
ment and amending the enforcement
laws, the Score" state election board
bill. which makes the secretary OF
the state senate the third member OF
the board. the Muskogee fair bill, and
the pipe line common carrier.
Governor Cruce has only a few days
to sign the remainder Of the bills
passed by the regular session. Those
not signed by that time die automat.
ically.
The Ballard case.