Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-01-17
I6OVERNOR HODGES
FIRST MESSAGE
Kansas Executive Sends Document
. to State Legislature.
MANY REFORMS ARE ADVOCATED
Election of Senators and Federal
judges by Direct Vote Favored
Four Amendments to the State
Constitution Recommended.

81 the first message d Gov. Geo. H.
Hodges, as received and read in both
AOuses of the state legislature:
Gentlemen of the Legislature:
Under and by virtue of the constitu.
don of the state Of Kansas it is the
duty of the governor to communicate
% you such information and to recon-
mend to you such legislation as ne
may deem proper and expedient touch
NAg state affairs. =
therefore call your attention to the
dact that the congress of the United
States has submitted to the several
&Ates an amendment to the federal
Redistribution providing for the election
q United States senators by direct
vote of the people. recommend that
you promptly ratify the same and
authorize the certifcation of your rati-
fcation to the Secretary of State OF
OHCSc OulIcu OItICo.
. In conformity with a deep-seated
conviction of the Democratic party, |
Would urge that this legislature pass
Q concurrent resolution instructing
our senators and requesting our men,
, Ners of the lower branch of congress
10 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 cleo
don of federal judges by direct vote
& the people and for term period
not exceeding six years.
call to your attention the fact that
AAmost every member OF this legisla-
. kure was elected upon a platform
pledge to submit to the people of Kan
oas, for their adoption or rejection,
amendments to our constitution pro-
vtding for the initiative and referen-
DUN in matters of legislation and for
Nhe recall of unfaithful public officials.
These and all other platform pledges
"a which any member of this legisla-
Nure was elected are solemn contracts
with the people and should be as
Rcredly performed as any contract,
the performance of which is demanded
~ law and business honor. | recon-
mend that the amendments be framed
In clear and explicit language and in
sterms which will make them effective
7ly conformed to the will of the people.
I also recommend that you submit
to the people of this state an amend
ment to the constitution providing for
quadrennial election of state and coun-
ty officers. Our elections are a 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
mold Office two successive terms should
DE added, I leave to your wisdom.
believe in state aid in building
roads and bridges, and recommend to
section of article II of the constitu-
ton be submitted to the people, which
Sholl read as follows:
"The state shall never be a party in
caNying on any work of internal i'm
proyement, except highways and
bridges"
In this connection ! call your atten-
fon to the fact that but three consti.
<utional amendments can be submitted
t general election. | 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 a 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-
ions to cast your vote for the candi-
date who received a plurality of the
votes in the state for United States
senator at the recent general election.
Therefore urge every Democratic
member Of this legislature to vote for
William H. Thompson for United
States senator.
The complications growing out of
tie 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, i feel that our present pri-
mary law is unsatisfactory and made
0pate. 1t is cumbersome and expen-
Sive. Members Of one party, or of no
party, may and have taken part in
tAe nomination Of the candidates of a
party with which they have never af.
Gliated. This is wrong, and should be
Cemedied by some sort of registration
n which party animation is declared a
reasonable time in advance of the pri-
mary.
I also recommend the adoption Of
Dc Massachusetts form of ballot"
eor which I contended at the last two
sessions of the Kansas legislature.
This seems an opportune time to make
She change, inasmuch as at least ESQ.,
An ~~-o~oo- -