Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-10-07
nesota and the federal government,

nesota and the federal government,
and between the state of Minnesota
and other states. Matters of grave
Importance, to which the governor, by
reason OF his office, should give par.
tlcular attention as the chief executive
officer of this great commonwealth.
State Institutions.
Possessed of an exceptionally good
school system, of which we are very
proud, all believe the University of
schools and common schools should
be maintained at the present high
standard and agricultural schools and
farm instruction given ample support.
Every instinct of humanity urges us
to see that our reformatory, training
schools and institutions for the care
OF the weak, the stricken and the
helpless shall lack nothing that will
contribute to the welfare of their in
mates.
No state has better appointed pris-
on nor one better conducted than our
own. Convlcts are men and women,
some weak, some wicked, but human
beings. Because they have broken
the social law we have no warrant to
violate the divine law. "And as We
would that men should do unto you,
do you also to them likewise"
For the protection of society it is
necessary to separate the criminal
from his fellows, but we seek to make
the prisoner better man, not simply
to punish him.
Discusses Veto Power.
But the governor has function in
connection with legislation other than
the right to suggest and to recon.
mend. He has a negative upon all
laws passed by the legislature. But
that negative is subject to constitu.
tional rules and limitations. Every
act OF the legislature before it becomes
a law must be presented to the COVER
nor; upon his approval it becomes a
law. He may not approve it, but fail
to return it to the house where it or.
iginated within three days, and in that
case it becomes law; he may return
the bill with his objections to it with,
in three days, and in such case it re.
quires two-thirds vote of both
branches of the legislature to become
a law. Thus the executive may by his
vote kill legislation approved by a
large majority of both houses.
There are legislative questions at
this time OF compelling interest and
the voters of the state have right
to know, and ought to know, if the
candidate for governor intends, if
elected, to use the veto power against
legislation in which they or many of
them are particularly interested.
A self-respecting citizen will not as.
sumo any office unless he feels that
he can discharge the duties of that Of
flee according to the constitution of
the state and his oath of office. He is
bound by the declaration of his party
platform if he is a partisan candidate,
and by his prediction statements
Those statements should be made pub
lie, for the candidate who makes rri-
Vate pledges and promises to secure
votes carries on campaign of deceit
and, If elected, has obtained his cleo
ton by fraud and cunning. No self
respecting constituency, on the other
hand, would expect a candidate worthy
of an important office to bind himself
with all sorts of promises and pledges
as though he were so dishonorable
and SO crafty that he could not be
trusted.
Opposed to Use of Veto.
Our legislature is like all other
American legislatures -bicameral. One
house is check upon the other
Sometimes legislation is considered
when passions are excited, or when
strong prejudices exist, or when mis-
apprehension or fear befogs mems
minds. At such times were there but
one legislative chamber, laws might
be enacted that would curse rather
than bless our commonwealth. 1t is
elementary that legislation affecting
millions of people must be carefully
considered, closely scrutinized, and de-
termined with calmness and delibera
ton. If measure is driven through
one chamber hastily and under such
stress of excitement that effective FRO.
visions receive little or no considera.
ton, there is another house where op.
portunity is given to correct where
correction is needed, or to defeat if
defeat there should be. But the con.
stitution wisely provides another
check-the veto Of the governor. True,
it is not an absolute check, for two.
thirds of each house may make law
without the governors approval, but
after proposition has run the gaunt.
let of two houses and the executive
chamber, it is not likely to receive the
two-thirds assent of each body unless
it contains much more good than
harm.
Now, the governor of Minnesota
with whom this legislative power is
entrusted, will deal with nonpartisan
legislature. Surely, if any representa-
tive body can be assumed to represent
faithfully the sentiment of the state
that body can. Suppose subject, for
instance, county option, or uni
versal primary, which has been dis
cussed throughout the state in polit
ical campaign, praised and assailed
in the press and on the platform, with
which the people are fairly familiar
is considered by this nonpartisan leg
islature and bill covering it approved
by both bodies rejecting the judg
ment and the opinion of the people OF
the state; in such case ought the gov
ernor-whatever his own personal
views may be-interpose veto.