The Detroit times., 1913-09-13
Supported Roosevelt For Presi-
dent, But Is Still q Repubh-
can, He Asserts
TALKS OF PROGRESSIVE
LAWS IN WISCONSIN
Says Measures Are Carefully
Considered and Enforcement
Placed In Hands Of Experts

In spite OF the claims Of the Pro
gressive national headquarters. Gov.
Francis r. McGoyern, Of Wisconsin.
says that he has not Joined the Pro
Gressive party.
Gov. McGovern declined to talk pol
itics during his stay In Detroit an one
of the distinguished men paying hon.
or to Commodore Perry. but the state
ment Of the Progressives brought an
explanation from him.
Il was elected governor OF Wiscons
sin on the Republican ticket. but !
supported Roosevelt for the presl-
dency In 1872" said Gov. McGovern.
The only reason the Republican par
ty was able to gain victory In the
state election was that 1t had been
supporting progressive doctrines for
years. am still member Of the Re-
publican party of wisconsin"
Gov. McGovern discussed the $50
called radical" laws Of Wisconsin.
1.-The last legislature Was In session
sAven months" he said. 1T passed .
good deal of important legislation
that is new in this country. It pro.
vided for farmers credits. 1t allowed
the establishment of banks which can
loan money to farmer. on . short
term note, based on the farmers
known honesty. his reputation Tor n
tsgrity. II provided tor hauke NM
the Iandschaften' banks Of Germany
to enable lArnerp TO- socure.neceeaAfl
cSo6& for impfov emeutD. WisconsiE
was the frst stats to make . study oi
the German system and to adopt It u
this country.
THE legislature adopted q blue
sky law. based on he Kansas statute
It provided for the sterilization Of the
insane and the degenerate. and It also
passed legislation demanding q physi'
clans certificate Of health from those
about to marry. cannot say how
these laws will work. as our expert
ence with them has been too short.
1T enlarged the scope OF many
laws passed by the legislature OF 1911.
II amended the workmen's compensa.
ton act, the highway act. and many
others. 1t provided for the extension
of agriculture by giving special In.
struction TO farmers.
Our income taw law ID the first In
the United States to be efficient. In
the first year Of It's operation we col.
lected $3,5OO.00O under 1t. We exact
reports Of each mans income from
the man himself; and these reports
are kept secret. Other states have
passed income tax laws, but In no In
stance have they been able to collect
more than 100000 q year. The Wis
consin law will be broadened until we
do away with the iniQuitous personal
property tax--an unjust tax that can
not be collected eQuitably.
II believe that the reason why Wis
.consin has been foremost In adopting
progressive legislation is our method
Of legislating. We do not hurry.
First. we make q special study Of con-
ditions, and of the necessary rem
edies. Second, we draft the legisla-
tion, In careful fashion, and pass 1t.
Third. we put its administration In
the hands Of expert commissions, free
from interference. We have discard
ed haphazard methods; we legislate
in business-like manner"
Gov. McGovern talks rapidly and
earnestly. His gray eyes, rather
closely set. fasten on his listener. He
emphasizes his point by driving his
fist into his hand. He IL direct and
emphatic. and has none OF the Gallo
suavity OF Gov. Pothier. of hode ISL
and the other executive who partici-
pated In the Perry celebration.