Government Reforms

Elections Wanted to take power away from political machines Most were native born, middle or upper class, and college educated Direct primary- voters choose the candidates who run in the general election 17th amendment- gave voters the power to elect their senators directly Secret ballots- voting results are kept confidential Initiative- gave power to initiate/introduce legislation Referendum- citizens can force legislation to place a recently passed law on the ballot, allowing voters to approve or veto Recall- enables voters to remove an elected official by calling for a special election

City Government Samuel M. Jones Mayor of Toledo Overhauled police force, improved municipal services, set minimum wage for city workers, open kindergartens Tom Johnson Mayor of Cleveland New rules for police department, released debtors from prison “Best mayor of the best governed city in US”- Lincoln Steffens Still much corruption and voter unhappiness Machine politics more predictable People sometimes rejected laws that should have been passed Fear lower class would gain too much power

State Government Robert M. LaFollette Wisconsin Idea Direct primary Increased taxes on railroads and public utilities Create commissions to regulate companies in the public interest Passed laws that curbed excessive lobbying Backed labor reforms Worked to conserve Wisconsin’s natural resources