Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-12
.HARD|hG Gives
REASON FOR VETO
.oovEAhoR HOLDS TITLE Of NON.
PARTISAN JUDICIARY REPEAL
DiLL 10 OBJECTIVE.
HOLDS IT WOULD REPEAL
ENTIRE PRIMARY LAW
oevsrnsr psfsnds Principle Of Nom
n partisan Judieiary-ss Judges Can
Net Wear Party Label and harmon-
4 iss With spirit Of nstitution-Eeh
4 o. Session Faetienism.

q Session Faetienism.
Special TO Times Republican.
Des Noines. May 13.-In vetoing the
bill providing for the repeale Of the
nom partisan Judiciary law, over which
there was such bitter night during
the closing days Of the legislature.
Governor Harding fled with the secre-
tary Of state . written statement
showing the reasons why he did not
approve the bill. The governor waited
until within two days OF the time when
he must take final action on any meas
ure passed by tho last general assem-
bly, before vetoing the bill.
The governor declares In his state
ment that in the first place the title to
the bill IL detective and the title. as
adopted, would repeal the entire pri-
mary law, which was not the intention
!. OF the legislature. He declares fur
Their that the method OF procedure was
such In the adoption of the bill that
irere ID very grave doubts whether or
not 1t would be constitutional. He
says further that the principle Of the
non- partisan judiciary election awl Is
right end should be preserved even tho
the law itself has its weaknesses per-
iiaps He further declares that the bill
Aas passed restores the circle to the bal
lot which placer a premium on igno-
rance and Incidence. =
Defends Principle Of Law.
A regards the irregularity Of the
procedure OF the legislature in adopt
ing tho repeal measure he points out
that this question was passed on once
by the senate in the defeat Of the Hell
: incr biii anu declares that parliament
itary law provides that "a bill once re-
jected. another Of the same substance
cannot be brought IN again in the same
session"
The governor An defense rof, the prin-
ciple Of the law among other things
said:
THE policy ID Just as we'll settled
that political parties do. not enunciate
on judicial matters and that judges
are not expected to carry out party
pledges. but rather to pass upon tho
NV ~ they ind 1t.
Judges can not wear Q party label
ana the ermine 1t the same time and
karmonixe VIM the fundamental spirit
N the constitution. Questions o. pol
icy are for the Legislative and execu-
tive branches Of the government. The
judiciary branch deals with human and
property rights. Men Of every poltti-'
cai faith must rest their rights TO life
ana property in the discretion and opin-
ion OF the Judge and the decree Of the
0Rft. & #
4rhe person VINO has this srsat pow
&S1hnuId not be elevated TO once be-
n xf%pArfy afiliation either by
ch6DcS 81 accident. The trend Of the
Hstts fl,ougfstsis toward the elimination
dine party label from the judiciary.
/ The non partisan law upon the statute
books which provides for the selection
and election Of judges IL not perfect:
In fact Il - susceptible to fair and,
inst criticism.
IN IL not my thought or purpose In
xStains this bill to write defense OF
SIria law in its present form and Ian
s,iSee but to save the principle. The
legislature could have saved the wise
6flnoiplel involved. that OF removing
the pasty label. by eliminating the pos
sibility Of what 10 known as 'plunk-
inr on the part Of the voter and by
plScang the ballot on q separate ticket.
Other changes tending toward simpli-
city could no doubt have been made.
Instead, the whole principles 10 discard
cd and 4 premium placed upon the ju-
dietary participating in politics by pro-
yidine three different methods by
which candidate for Judge may quail
Nv for nomination and election. Just
Why Z candidate for judge tn>say Polk
and Lee counties should be chosen In
a primary and In some other counties
bY ~ political convention Is hard to
understand unless 1t be that the bill
was not we'll considered"
Fight Thru Whole Session.
The night to repeal the non bipartisan
judiciary law extended thru the whole
session. It started on January 10 when
Senator Helmer of Carroll county. in
troduced 1iis bill TO repeal the law and
provide Tor the nomination Of judges In
convention. The senate COMMITTEES rec
commended this measure for indefinite
postponement and the senate adopted
the report. An effort was made to re-
consider this but II failed
rhe measure which finally passed to
repeSl the law passed the house April
10 and the senate April IL, just two
saaye before the end of the session. The
ho,,Ge adopted Il Is TO 70 and the sen
ste ~ to 80.
Il. Following the night in which the bill
70 provide IN additional Judge Of the
Supresne court Was defeated the oppo-
ntstp OF the non partisan judiciary
apSeared 70 30 ali the more anxious to
Aa.A X(,sAfAnn NIL