Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-01-15
MUCH IMPORTANT WORK
Several Constitutional Amendments to
Act On-Plans for Preliminary Or.
ganizati0n Canvass Of Vote for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Some Radical Recommendations.
(By George Gallarno)

| WHO nave followed Clle WOTh OIL lcSlS'
lative sessions in the past years and
who endeavor to keep posted on prob
able legislation are convinced that
many matters Of great Importance to
the state will come before the law
makers. They cite proposed legisla-
ton relative to the Short ballot, &C.
ton for the second time,1n the con-
stitutional amendments favoring
women's suffrage, the Initiative and
referendum, the matter of exclusive
taxation of certain property for state
| revenue, and the matter of amending
the constitution so as to give the legis-
lature authority after 1916 to fix the
| time of holding state, county and
township elections. The latter amend
ment is a sort Of precautionary meas
ure. At the present time the date for
holding the state election is fixed by
the constitution and is in accordance
with the time fixed by congress for
holding the national election. There
has been agitation before congress
looking to change of time for hold
ing the national election from Tuesday
to Monday, and if this is done and the
Iowa amendment is adopted, the only
thing necessary to be done to have the
Iowa law in conformity with the ma
tional law will be for the legislature
to adopt an amendment to that effect.
AS the Iowa constitution stands at
present, if congress should change the
date of election it would take six years
before Iowa could amend its consti-
tuition and adopt law to conform
with the national law.
Mode Of Organization.
The legislature will convene at noon
on Monday, the 18th, and il precedent
is followed the members of the house
will be called to order by s. B. Gar
ton, the senior representative from
Polk county. A temporary organiza-
ton will be formed and then the body
will proceed to the election of =
speaker and other permanent officers.
The contest for the speakership
among the republican aspirants is
spirited, but without acrimony. There
are three candidates for the position,
Henry Brady, Of Dallas county, Justin
Barry. of Linn county, and William l.
Atkinson, of Butler. Each of the can
didates has conducted a lively cam
paign among the members and each is
declaring himself confident Of election.
In point Of service in previous assem-
blies, Mr.. Brady has slight advan-
tage over his opponents. He has
served in the 34th and 35th general
assemblies, while Messrs. Barry and
have seen service only in
the 35th.
Canvass Vote for Governor.
The detail of procedure in the SEN
ate will be the calling to order Of that
body by Lieutenant Governor Harding.
Temporary officers will then be elect
ed and both houses will adjourn to
meet at 9 o'clock on Tuesday, the 18th. |
Then. under law adopted by the 35th
General Assembly they will convene
in joint session in the house chamber |
and proceed to canvass the vote for |
governor and lieutenant governor. !
This canvass will show the election |
of George w. Clarke as governor and |
w. L. Harding, as lieutenant governor. |
Unofficial returns received at the Of
flee of the secretary of state, on the |
vote for governor show total of
1872, PAL votes cast, Of which Governor |
Clarke received 214,s51; John T. Ham
fltOn, democrat, received 183,99O; |
Malcolm Smith, prohibitionist, 1904;
Geo. G. White, progressive, 1929, and
OF
gives Governor Clarke a plurality of
1861 votes and shows that he lacked
but 1853 votes Of having a majority
over all candidates.
The canvass of the vote for lieuten-
ant governor will show remarkable
falling of in the total of votes cast,
the total for all candidates for this Of
fee being 1885 less than the total
for gubernatorial candidates. The
vote is as follows: w. L. Harding, re-
publican, 212,2S1; o. P. Myers, demo-
crat. 164,o67; Thurlow T. Taft, pro.
6.S43; H. B. Betty. pro.
gressive, 1903; o. H. Hoy, socialist,
s,452. Lieutenant Governor Harding
against whom special fight was made
Dy the prOhlDltlOn1Sts, received $50 !
less votes than were cast for Cover
nor Clarke, while o. p. Myers, known
As . dry democrat, received 1888
votes less than were cast for John T. |
for governor.
New Law h Csnfusine.
Among the state officials who are
figuring on the preliminary work of !
the assembly there is some confusion
~ to the methods of procedure follow
Ing the temporary organization Of the
two houses. The 35th General Assem-
bly, IN IN effort to facilitate the work
u tAs opening days Of the assembly
Nd 70 arrange % that the members
night Be able to get ct the labee q