Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-04-22
WIN. f. LEE DELIVERS
HIS KEYNOTE SPEECH
Continued from reverse page.)


to recognize the necessity for united
atticn against the organized forces
who look upon the power of govern
ucnt as opportunity to despol. AS
citizenship improves. government will
improve in character and usefulness
Government is simply a matter OF car
rving on the peoples business, and it
requires the same kind of talent, abil-
1{y and honesty of purpose that sue
aSSful private business must have No
ilan should be entrusted with the re-
Snonsibility OF public business unless
hs' has had the same experience and
training that would warrant him in
ai'!''ying for d similar position in the
management of a private business.
Value Of System.
System is of no value unless there
is a man at the head who will use
the system to get results. An anti
Ouated and bunglesCme system, with
the right kind Of manager in charge.
vii! show better results than mod
eln. scientific system manned by in
rnmpetents. The need of our state
government today is an energetic and
competent business direction. It is a
business mans job. One of the first
requirements of good business direc-
ton is that the manager OF the bust
ness shall be on the job. and that he
snail Keep everyone else connected
with the business on the job. l am
that kind Of business man, and if
elected to the Office of governor I
shall consider that the people have
employed me to see that their bust
ness is conducted promptly, efficiently
and economically
One Of the first duties that Details
a newly elected governor is an exam
ination into the qualifications Of those
who are to work under his direction
/ pledge myself to make appointments
solely on merit and ability to do the
specific work for which the appoint
rnent is made. No man has or will
have any different pledge from me.
To Be Personally Accessible.
shall b" accessible during reason
able working hours every working day
to any citizen who has business to
transact with the state or who is in
t<'re:,ted in any feature of tho states
business.
The members Of The state boards,
heads Of denartm ents and of state in
stItutlOns are the governors official
family. BY law they are required to
make reports Of the condition Of their
departments. They are responsible
for the conduct and results of the
work done. They are in Il position to
Know the needs Of the divisions over
which they preside. If elected gov
ernOr, I shall make it my business to
cooperate with them and shall ask
their cooperation in reinedying evils
ana in promoting efficiency. I shall
ondeaVOr to familiarZe myself with
these matters that may be able in
telliGently to make recommendations
to The legislature.
All matters of legislation are mat.
tors of political policy. to be deter
mined by the majority OF the people
as their sense OF the public welfare
dictates. But the organization and
conduct Of the departments of admin
istration are problems of business and
ought to be entirely divorced from
consideration of political policy or ex.
Iediency.
When legislation is turned over to
those who are to put it into action
the policy is settled for the time be.
ing. and it becomes a business prob
lem that ought to be dealt with &C.
cordlng to the three cardinal princi-
pies of successful business admins
tration, certainty, efficiency and econ.
omy.
The enforcement of the law is of
the first Importance. The duty of the
governor in this regard is clearly de.
lined and he is given no discretion;
the laws of the land must be executed
and upon him rests the responsibility
OF seeing that they are enforced.
The various heads of departments
should be held to strict accountable
7ty for the affairs under their charge.
The rights of the state should at all
times be zealously guarded. In the
great domain of taxation and regula.
ton, the state must not be permitted
to sleep on its rights. In criminal
matters I am for simplicity of pro.
cedure and speedy hearings so as to
insure prompt justice.
The antitrust laws should be most
strictly enforced, to the end that mon.
opolles may not Cypress the people
The liquor laws are being persistently
violated all over the state and nv
earnest endeavor shall be to comDe]
the observance of all such laws.
believe we should have an effec
tive civil service law to apply to al
administrative offices other than heads
OF departments, in all instances where
service and efficiency may be thereb,
promoted. Civil service is demanded
both by public economy and public
morality. A good civil service law
honestly and effectively administered
is essential to honest, efficient, eco
nomical government To secure the
maximum of service for it's public ex
penditures, the state of Minnesota
must put into effective practice thu
fn,,r eo1