The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-11
inaugural Address Today
By Governor Vim. L. Harding
IBy United Press.l

10y CuIJSU ITSSS.l ~.
DES MONIES. Jan. 11.-Standing
in the same place where Governor
George w. Clarke Tuesday denounced
the Iowa primary laws, w L. Hard
ing, inaugurated this afternoon as the
new governor of Iowa, defended
these laws, saying "the preservation
of this principle is vital"
The arguments for their repeal.
Governor Harding declared, ARE
based on the distrust which the Tory
of all ages has felt for the popu-
lace" Governor Harding's inaugural
address was as follows:
Members of the Thirty-Seventh Gen
era1 Assembly and Fellow Citi-
zens:
In a spirit of humility and rever-
ence, the duties and responsibilities
of chief executive Of this common
wealth are today assumed. Mindful
of personal limitations. and coun-
sci of the eternal builder of the uni
verse is earnestly sought. The con-
fidence Of the electorate, SO gener-
ously bestowed, is gratefully acknow-
lodged.
In assuming this first responsible
ity, and in performing this first, and
pleasant, duty, trust shall not
lose sight of the fact that am
speaking to a coordinate branch OF
the government, wisely protected, in
the performance of distinctions, from
undue influence, and interference, by
it's peers. In what shall say, there
fore, I do not presume to outline
complete legislative program, but 10
voice, as best l may, as the repre-
sentative head Of the whole people,
my conception of how we may best
accomplish that which will rebound
to the benefit and happiness OF the
whole people
There are not here, as in many
commonwealths, natural geographic
cal. or artificial trade conditions, ~
force Of which one section OF the
state is arrayed in interest against
Others We are homogeneous
people. with no problem or condi-
ton in any section, or among any
class, whieh does not exist equally
in all; and legislative action, for the
benefit of any interest in the state,
need work no injury to tne whole
people. &
In the wealth of material things,
we are rich beyond belief; an en-
pire of thriving cities and smiling
IdEHS, anu VI AIo WCoAShp oao Va SAAS
happiness and future of it's people.
you are the chosen guardians. Iii
your action lies the possibility Of
opening higher fields of endeavor, in
which shall ripen the golden grain
of Individual effort into glorious
harvest of social justice.
Government Is not an ideal, but a
necessity, and representative govern
ment was instituted among men for
the purpose of protecting the indi-
yidual in the enjoyment of the fruits
az his toll and skill, and for carry
ing, by united effort, common bur-
tens too heavy for individual
strength.
Better Homes.
Governments may properly notice
economic conditions which exert such
pressure of material necessity upon
the individual that he has no real
choice as to the conditions ander
which he shall labor for his bread.
Iii the past, we have made legislative
effort to afford men a safe place in
which to work Might we not well
look to see il we may. by the same
means, afford him and his family a
decent place in which to live? We
have said by law that the rent for
money cannot justly be more than 8
percent; that it's use can have no
greater value than that. Why should
we permit this same money, invested
in a shack, to produce 100 percent
in rent for its use?> We spend mil
lions to care for the derelicts these
places launch, but We do practically
nothing to, prevent the conditions
which produce them.
The home is the rock Upon which
the whole structure Of society rests.
II 1t shall be driven, by greed, to
the howell and the tenement, none
shall be safe from the plague which
will rise, and spread. from those
depths.
We have done something in a re-
lated matter The spread of tuber-