New-York tribune., 1874-11-04
TIE NOVEMBER PUZZLE.

When the Average Voter came down to
| breakfast Yesterday morning he found hs
plate full of pleth6rIc yellow envelopes, stuffod
with ballots and circulars. Mr. Michael Null
doom had the honor to present his claims for
the office of Alderman at Large or Member OF
the Assembly. Col. Mulberry Sellers took tho
liberty of stating his fitness to represent tie
District in Congress. A committee of possibly
respectable but certainly undistinguished house,
holders cOncurred in recommending their fell
low citizen Brown Jones the best nominee
for some other Office and to suit all tastes,
they inclosed a number of ballots, some with
Dix at the top and some with Iilden, some
with Wales at the bottom, some with Often
dorfer, and some with Wickham, but all in
cluding Brown Jones. Besides expressing his
opinion upon each of tho eleven COnstitu-
tional Amendments, every Average Voter was
invited yesterday to give his suffrage for
fifteen State and local candidates. There were
four parties in the field, and the four indc-
pendent tickets, with their innumerable per-
mutations, made up puzzle which might per-
plex even a veteran politician.
If the Average Voter was strict party
man, who followed the caucus blindly, and
swallowed whatever Mr.. John Kelly or Messrs.
Murphy and Arthur set before him, he could
turn to the newspapers, select from the
official advertisements the Irregular ticket" Of
his faction and vote it with no further con-
Germ for the result. But strict party men
have not been as numerous as usual this year.
There has been general disposition to scratch
tickets and make new combinations, and
people have manifested strange desire ia
know something about the fitness and
&C &Ia Iota xuhn aA
for their support The Average Voter
yesterday morning accordingly took the forty
or fifty names which he found in his break
fast plate, aud began to inquire about their
owners. The two candidates for Governor he
knew pretty well by reputation, and he had
probably made his choice between them some
time ago. For Register, and possibly Mayor
and Member of Congress, he could also make
an intelligent selection. But when it came to
Assemblyman and Aldermen and Aldermen at
Large and the subordinate State officers, he
was completely in the dark. If he went out
into his ward in search Of light. he
found every street corner Ornamented with
patriots earning two or three dollars
day by holding ballots between their fingers
and splitting tobacco juice all over the side
walk. They were very willing to impart in
formation. and they all did it together.
"Vote for Muldoon; he's the workingman'a
friend" "Wbos Curlihanf Why, he's in
favor of givin' every man employment
Hero you are, Sir; regular TammaDy ticket"
"H you re agin the Third Term, vote for
Jimmy Hayes" In a great many cases the
conscientious voter gave up in despair the pur-
suit of knc wledge under difficulties, and struck
off two-thirds of the names on his tickets.
We never shall have an end of this annual
bewilderment until we reduce the number Of
candidates 80 that the merits of every man
who runs for Office may be thoroughly can
vassed before the day of election. To ac-
cOmplish this two reforms arc necessary.
First we should have a complete separation
between State and National elections on tho
one hand and municipal elections on the
other. Political issues have nothing to do
with the question who shall administer
the local affairs of the city these
are mere matters of police, and IL
would be better to settle them in tho
Spring of the year when the controversies
over President, Governor, and Congressman
will not interfere with them. In the second
place there ought to be reduction in the
number of State and municipal elective Offices.
Give us a few candidates; let us know who
they are; concentrate the functions of admin
istration in two or three hands; and hold
Mayor and Governor responsible for the be-
haviOr of their subOrdinates. Until We apply
| the same rules of common sense to public
affairs that we do to our private business the
November puzzle will always arise to vex IN
| and will never be solved.
|