Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-07
GOVERNOR, IN FIRST MESSAGE TO
LEGISLATURE, DECLARES
STATUTE rs ENTITLED
TO FAIR TRIAL.
Recommends Expenditures Mot Great
er Than Those Of 1sf1---Favors
Revision Of Election Laws ard
Measure That viii Make
for Temperance.

st. Paul, Jan. 6.--Guvernor Winfield
Scott Hammond, In his first message to
the Legislature, declared that the
statute providing for the election of the
members of both House and Senate as
trial. -
There should be no change In the
primary election law, unless IL be 10
cure some Of the defects Ia the present
Law or some unfortunate conditions
thai the statute permits, he said.
Governor Hammond recommended
LnAt a proposed constitutional amend
menfs empowering the Legislature TO
enact Legislation establishing the initial
tive and referendum, be submitted
Ihe building OF good roads. the ac-
by the state, adequate approximations
for the prevention Of forest flres, the
promotion OF temperance, and economy
n n. stare expenditures were urged by
Governor Hammond's address In fun
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House OF
The last legislature In its wisdom
saw Mt TO enact legislation providing
Tor the election Of the members of both
hoase and senate as non-paTtisans
There is considerable difference OF
opinion as TO the expediency of this
departure from we'll established prac-
tice In Minnesota, but the statute has
been enacted, and in the recent election
the voters selected their representa~
tIFes IN this Legislative body regardless
OF their political beliefs. AS q citizen
Of the State, one may he a Democrat. q
republican, Socialist, a Prohibition
l6tt progressive or d member OF the
INDUSTRIAL Labor party. but as legis-
Iator he should be a non-pzrtlSan. The
statute is entitled to a fair trial md
the work OF this body may determine
NM,hethef or not the present plan shall
ne continued Indeed each member of
this body owes il to his constituency
anH to the State to conduct himself ia
matters coming before him as he would
II ne were affiliated with no political
party and his failure so to do can mai
but be considered indifference ON HIS
part, not only to provisions Of existing
law, but TO the conditions Under which
he was chosen and his oblfrat isns ~,
the electors of his district Ii is to ne
hoped that political partisGnship viii
n y appesr IN the discussions or the
aetl6nS OF either body of the present
Legislature. bat that all members will
enter upon their high and irnportarIt
aattes with but one purpose-thaI be-
best OF their ability for the promotion
oE LES common good. This high ana
tefty purpose, If adhered TO as 1t should
be- viii result In effective and whole
some Legislation in the highest degree
behenciaa to Minnesota, and i'm an equal
deEree. creditable to themselves. In
and open-minded way the Responsible
ties with which you are confronted. YOU
VII nave the sympathy the support
Executive II this State.
The people believe in primaries. They
realize that there are defects in the
primary election system, but they pre-
fer that system as IL is TO a return to
the old convention plan, and unless IL
be 10 cure some defects In the present
law or some unfortunate conditions
law.
Select Men Best Fitted for once.
II is 81 matter of common knowledge
that many Democrats vote in RepubM-
can primaries and help nominate Re-
publican candidates Undoubtedly
many Republicans likewise vote in
Democratic primaries, and members OF
other political parties assist in nomi-
mating candidates for when they do
net intend to vote. Perhaps on the
kind of voting, but the spirit of the
law is violated. 1t was intended that
each political party should hold Its own
primary; should nominate its own can
didates, and that only members of that
political party shold participate in their
selection Heretofore in many portions
sented no candidates for county and
Legislative Offices. In the general ell
ection the members Of those parties
voted for men others had nominated.
They could then qualify under the law
and many felt justified In voting In
the primaries where a choice of can
erRl election there was no opportunity
for selection. II may be that at times
they supported a candidate for the
nomination because they beiiyed him TO
be more likely than another 10 be de-
feated In the general election by one
OF their own party; bat the number
who INDUCED in that practice is COM
parativsly few. and TO repeat what was
said a moment ago, there lis probably
nc great harm done by the voters of
one party going into the primaries OF
another. Many times because of their
participation In the selection men best
fitted for the Offices they sought were
chosen and became the party nominees.
are voting in Democratic primaries. why
would ii not be we'll to allow all RE
politicians 20 vote in thsrng III q large
Republican primaries. why not let all
the ProgressIses do take part In
ProhihitioFl party, and the Socialists
assist TN making the selections OF other
parties. the nominees Cor public once
coed party men. as they are row. II
more would refrain from exercising the
fnens 81 men who are unwilling to yfo-
late the spirit OF law ought to be OF
value, not oRly In the selection Of pub
aiastes for public once. should the
Legislature see at to amend the pri-
mary law SO rs to permit all electors
to participate In each primary eonsid-
cradle criticism Of the systeEH would be
avoided no harm would ne done.
and on the whole probably better
nominations would be-. made. In the Re
pwhIicsasa primaries Of course, the only
rantsidates 10 be voted for would be Re
palsIirans and In the Socialist pri-
Tasrtss ar4ly Socialists would ne canstd.
cred bat all voters irrespective OF
party. would select all the nominees.
While no material change need be
made in oar election laws. 1t fs very
desirable that their provisions be re-
arranged in q more orderly manner,
and that many PASSAGES g!ffieult 70
understand he rewritten. IL ts quite
necessary, in my Judgment that thsre
De- thorough going over Of these laws
ana the perTIexities and apparent Ia
Now tauaa IN them re-
moved II this SIS done, an eornaant
II viii meet the approval OF our cEti-
sens especially our elect8SH oflzeeFs
and the Judges Of our courts.
Fssrers E<gfaIaffsa NY the People.
The trst proposed amendment PRO- /
wiling far direct legislation by the peo-
yats 81 the stats through the initiative
ans referendum was defeated. although