The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-08
LEGISLATURES, DECLARES
STATUTE Is ENTITLED
TO FAIR TRIAL.
WOULD LIMIT AMOUNT OF
STATE APPROPRIATIONS
Recommends Expenditures Not Great.
er Than Those of 1911-Favors
Revision of Election Laws and
Measure That Will Make
for Temperance.

tic uecldIeu tndl the
statute providing for the election of the
members of both House and Senate as
non partisans should be given a fair
trial.
There should be no change In the
primary election law, unless it be to
cure some of the defects in the present
law or some unfortunate conditions
that the statute permits, he said.
Governor Hammond recommended
that proposed constitutional amend
ment, empowering the Legislature to
enact legislation establishing the initia-
tive and referendum, be submitted.
The building of good roads, the &C.
curing of cheap non-agricultural land
by the state. adequate appropriations
promotion of temperance, and economy
In state expenditures We're urged by
the new executive.
Governor Hammond's address in full
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
Representatives:
The last Legislature in it's wisdom
saw fit to enact legislation providing
for the election of the members of both
House and Senate as -partisanS
There is considerable difference of
departure from a well established prac-
tice in Minnesota, but the statute has
been enacted. and in the recent election
the voters selected their representa-
tives In this legislative body regardless
Of their political beliefs. AS a citizen
OF the state, one may be a Democrat a
Republican, a Socialist. Prohibition
Ist. a Progressive or member of the
Industrial Labor party, but as a iegis-
lator he should be non-partisan. The
statute is entitled to a fair trial, and
the work of this body may determine
whether or not the present plan shall
be continued. Indeed, each member of
this body owes it to his constituency
and to the State to conduct himself in
matters coming before him as he would
If he were affiliated with no political
party, and his failure so to do can not
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 obligations to
the electors of his district. 1t is to be
not appear in the discussions or the
actions Of either body of the present
Legislature. but that all members will
enter upon their high and important
duties with but one purpose-that be-
ing purpose to serve the State to the
best of their ability for the promotion
lofty purpose, If adhered to as it should
be, will result in effective and whole
some legislation in the highest degree
beneficial to Minnesota, and in an equal
your efforts to meet in q fair, broad
and open minded way the responsible
ties with which you are confronted. you
will have the. sympathy, the support
Executive of this State
The people believe in primaries. They
primary election system, but they pre-
fer that system as 1t is to a return to
the old convention plan, and unless it
be to cure some defects in the present
law or some unfortunate conditions
that the statute permits. there should
be no change in our primary election
law.
Select Men Best Fitted for Office.
1t Is a matter of common knowledge
that many Democrats vote in Republic
can primaries and help nominate Re-
R %ank %63s
Democratic primaries, and members of
other political parties assist in nomi-
mating candidates for whom they do
whole no great harm is done by this
kind of voting, but the spirit of the
law is violated. 1t was intended that
primary; should nominate its i own IN 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
They could then qualify under the law
and many felt justified in voting in
the primaries where choice of can
didates was offered because in the gen.
eral election there was no opportunity
for selection. 1t may be that at times
they. supported candidate for the
because tney DellVeu MIN TO
be more likely than another to be de-
feated In the general election by one
of their own party; but the number
who INDUCED in that practice is COM
paratively few, and to repeat what was
said moment ago, there is probably
no great harm done by the voters of
one party going into the primaries of
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 1t not be well to allow all Re-
publicans to vote in them? If a large
wbv no all
the Progressives do take part in
nominating the candidates of the
assist in making the selections of other
parties, the nominees FOR public Office
w ould probably be rs good men and as
such voting were permitted by law
none would refrain from exercising the
privilege that others take: The judg-
late the spirit of law ought to be of
value, not only in the selection of pub
lie officers, but in the selection of can
didates fer public office. Should the
mary law so as to permit all electors
to participate in each primary, consid-
cradle criticism of the system would be
and on the whole probably better
nominations would be made. In the Re-
publican primaries, of course. the only
candidates to be voted for would be Re-
publicans. and in the Socialist pri-
maries only Socialists would be consid-
cred, but all voters irrespective of
party, would select all the nominees.
While no material change need be
made in our election laws, it is very
desirable that their provisions be re-
arranged in a more orderly manner.
and that many passages difficult to
understand be rewritten. 1t is quite
necessary, in my Judgment. that there
be thorough going over of these laws,
and the perplexities and apparent in
constituencies now found in them re-
moved. If this is done, I am confident
it will meet the approval of our citi-
zens, especially our election officers
and the judges of our courts.
Direct Legislation by the People.
The first proposed amendment pro-
viding for direct legislation by the peo-
Pile of the State through the initiative
Nd wa defeated a1fhnnoh