Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-16
ANNOUNCEMENT w. l.. HARDING.

Inc announcement OF w. IL. f1dru-
ing of Sioux City, for the Office of
governor of Iowa has been received
at this office. Mr.. Harding is a leading
lawyer and at present lieutenant gov
ernor of Iowa. We quote from his an
nouncement as follows:
''As the election will be won be-
cause the justice that rules the world
has strengthened the faith that the
reign of Republican principles is for
the good Of all, it follows that both
state and party may insist that no
one shall use the machinery and pres
tige of the party as means of pro-
motion, who has not been faithful to
the essentials of it's creed. Profound
ly appreciating how far | fall short
of meeting all of this standard, hope
that a life spent in Iowa, and much
of 1t in her service, will be the test
applied to me, rather than sweeping
and loose misrepresentation. While /
will not say more as to this, / do as
seTt that | have been, and, elected or
defeated, will be a faithful Republi-
can, desiring to be neither the dicta-
tor of the party nor party in my
self-and feel that if the party plat
form, duly promulgated, should be
not stand, there is left the honorable
remedy of withdrawal. / feel free to
claim the support of those who have
been consistent communicates of Re-
publican faith, and add that if chosen
as the nominee of my party for the Of
flee Of Governor, it will be my SUI
preme ambition to be as good an Off
Ger of the State as God and an hon
orable parentage have given me abil
ity to be.
1T is due the Safe that something
be said on subjects that may not be
dealt with in the party platform.
First:-I believe the State should
not eliminate individuality, and that
the Legislature has not the power,
and should not have the desire, to-
give to man the prosperity which,
through all the ages, industry, sObrie-
tv, and development of personal pow
er have alone created.
Second 1.-THE increasing tendency
toward government by and through
commissions is undemocratic and will
undermine representative govern
ment The administration of every
day affairs by the local government
is ideal government.
Third.-No state is more truly
progressive than ours. However, all
good things cannot be had at once,
and the order of obtaining them
should, in justice, be left to those
who must pay for them. Without ad
ditional expenditures, taxes are out
CT proportion to the income of the
taxpayer. The benefit of the doubt
should be given against the expendi-
lures, taxes are out of proportion TO
the income of the taxpayer. The bene-
fit of the doubt should be given
against the expenditure of public mo-
ney
Fourth: 1t surprises me tha.
stress should be laid upon 'law en-
forcement" as a campaign argument.
For many years have from the plat
form deplored our National sin, lack
Cf law enforcement-wit
thought that il was any virtue to con-
demn that sin. The people of Iowa,
quite as a matter of course, are for
enforcing all law, even when they
think the cause would be helped If
fewer laws were made. Iowa has new
er had, and l believe never will have,
a Governor who would not scrupu-
lously obey his oath to enforce the
law. For myself-if Governor
would, without thought that it enti-
tied me to any credit, faithfully and
impartially enforce every law upon
the Statute books. l specify no law
because include them all, and to sim
gle out one, as to which my oath
would be an admission that my duty
would not be done faithfully and i'm
partially.
Fifth: In passing on whether to
approve or veto bill duly passed, IL
chosen Governor, / will be influenced
only with the thought that in legisla-
tion the General Assembly represents
the people and that the Governor is
not chosen as member of the Legis-
lature.