Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-01-29
Practicable Reforms.

The Century Magazine, in its Feb
ruary number, concludes an article on
"Some Practicable Reforms, ms fol-
lows:
IF the States in which the local cleo
tions are now separate from the Presi-
dental election would amend their con-
stitutions so that hereafter all the elec-
ions should occur in November, Il
great and valuable reform would be
secured. There would still be close
ana heated contests, and the ills of
which mention has been made would
be cured but in part; but it is perfectly
evident that very large part of them
would be abated by this simple remedy.
We are not aware of any reasons for
continuing the present order in these
States that could haze any force when
compared with the obvious reasons
which have been suggested for the
change. 1t is gratifying to hear that
the people OF Ohio are fully awake TO
the Importance of this reform, and that
movement to secure it is receiving
the support of the best men of both
parties 1t is to be hoped that Ohio
will spare itself and the nation the
curse of another October election in the
Presidential year.
''ln most of the large cities, and
| notably in the city of New York. il
would be well to separate the municipal
| elections from both the State and the
| national elections, in order TO prevent
the trading which is always practiced
~ the interest of local candidates.
There is no good reason why party
| lines should not be ignored in munich
pal contests. 1t makes not the slightest
difference whether the mayor of New
York is Democrat or Republican, if
| he IS only man of sound character,
clever Judgment. and firm will. The
complete divorce of municipal affairs
from party politics. and the hearty CO.
operation of all good citizens to secure
clean and economical government, are
| greatly to be desired
Another perfectly feasible reform is
| the postponement of the nominating
conventions of the political parties.
The time now occurring between the
| nominations and the election is much
| longer than is necessary for a fair can
yass of the questions at issue and a
thorough investigation of the merits OF
| candidates. If the conventions were
| not held before the first of August, the
campaign would be quite long enough
| for all practical purposes. Ii the elec-
tons occur once in four years, and il
the campaign be protracted through
five or six months of the year. the time
| devoted to these contests is certainly ex-
cessiye. Astrain so frequent and SO
long-continued upon the industrial and
the moral interests of the nation is in
! tolerable. If we cannot have the Pre-.
| sidential term extended, the next best
| thing to do is to shorten the campaign.
And this will be done if the business
men OF the country resolutely demand
1t at the hands of the politicians.
"Still another most salutary reform
would be the holding of the nominating
conventions in halls barely large enough
to contain the delegates and the repre-
tons could then be, what none of them
have been OF late, deliberative bodies,
and could exercise some judgment in
the choice of candidates. The presence
in the convention of mob of heeler:
and strikers, from all parts of the coun-
try, TO shout for their favorite candid
ates and to overpower the assembly by
sheer brute force, is most discredita
bic spectacle, and it has proved to be d
mischievous appendage to our politica
machinery. The gentlemen of the
national committees can put an end t.
this if they will; and it is to be hoped
that clear expression of public opin,
ion will make plain to them the path Of
| duty