Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-01-06
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p|pIoI OIl oaollly and
EII!ileIalIllcI lllllllillIs Sion.

lslleiYlly ll y : Slulls u
IPRlM|A Law SETS HIS Q. /,
unIsss 70 Cure Minor Defects Govern.
"a says There should % No Change
IL II the statuts avors state Devel,
opment 81 Waste lands 10 Eneour,
II ace EARLY Settlement. 5.....
ST. Paul. Jan. Governor w. S.
Hammond. in his inaugural address to
{ the legislature, paid partic ular atten-
ton to the reorganization Of the state
departments as recommended BY the
economy and efficiency commission.
He commended the report and urged
its adoption into law. The address, In
part, follows: If fS ts#. 5 5a s.i.. !
The last legislature in its wisdom
saw fit to enact legislation providing
for the election OF the members of
both house and senate as nonpartisans.
There Ia considerable difference OF
opinion rs to the expediency Of this
departure from we'll established
practice in Minnesota; but the statute
has been enacted, and In the recent
election the voters selected their rep
Fresentatives iii this legislative body
regardless Of their. political beliefs.
The statute is entitled to a fair trial.
"A. ''The people believe In primaries.
They realize that there are defects in
the primary election system, but they
prefer that system as it is to a return
to the old convention plan, and unless
it be to cure some defects in the pres.
ent law or some unfortunate condi-
tions that the statute permits, there
should be no change in our primary
election law. s
q. 1T is a, matter of common knowl-
edge that many Democrats vote in
Republican primaries and help nOmi'
nate Republican candidates. Undoubt
eddy many Republicans likewise vote
In Democratic primaries, and mem
bers of other political parties assist
In nominating candidates for whom
they do not intend to vote. Perhaps
on the whole NO great harm is done
by this kind of voting, but the spirit
( of the law is violated: Should the leg.
islature see fit to amend the primary
law SO as to permit all electors to par,
ticipate in each primary, considerable
criticism Of the system would be
avoided; no harm would be done, and
on the whole. probably better nomina
tions would be made. ,,,,-.,,
TOO MANY AMENDMENTS.
| AT the last election there were
submitted to the electors eleven pro,
posed constitutional amendments, and
all but one defeated. The ordinary
voter has not the time, or will not
take the time, to familiarize himself
with SO large number of PROPOSE.
tiOns Each one is worthy of much
study and Of earnest consideration. 1t
is too much to expect that voters vii:
give such study and consideration TO
eleven proposals in single election.
One or two of them might be submit.
ted and the judgment Of the people
obtained upon these. but when large
number are proposed q great many
voters will either not vote at all or
vote NO because they do not feel
justified v in voting Yes OF the
amendments approved in the legisla.
3ture it is advisable that some method
be adopted to determine the one MOST
important. and submit that, and that
alone, to the plebiscite. i. sfs
The first proposed amendment pro
viding for direct legislation by the
4 people of the state through the initia
4 tive and referendum was defeated. al
tthoug h 1T received greater numbe
%of votes than any one Of the othel
ten amendments save only the ninth
which was approved, and there were
& less votes against it than were cas-
4 iii opposition to the one that carried
While i think this particular amend
u 3nlent should not be submitted at tn
next election to the people, I do res
i. ommend that e proposed constitution
I'll amendment empowering the legis
1ature TO enact Legislation establish
Ing the initiative and referendum b
81 submit tied. 55s= #...:
GOD IL DADS AND DRAINAGE. Is
en- ere must be no backward ste
taken ii the construction and MAR
tenance Of good roads throughout tn
commonWe alth, and in the deyelol
ment Of a onservative forestry po
!. icy The SO called Dunn law, in m
Judgment a we'll balanced enactmen
v may perhaps be made better by som
minor changes but on the whole It q
working well The amount Of none
expended for roads increased MOI
than 200 per cent ii the six years en-
ing In 1917, and 50 large an 5expend
ture directs the attention Of the pc
pie to the work accompli shed and II
& methods pursued. Care must be ake
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