The herald., 1894-04-22


dates or their representatives.
This problem of primary elections is
overshadowed by the one which the
Citizens league is engaged upon, name
ly, how to obtain an honest and efficient
administration of the laws, and as great
a degree Of economy as is consistent with
efficiency.
There should be no orns mental figure
heads, drawing a large salary with a
chief deputy doing the work, but active
working heads of the different depart
ments, 80 situated that they need give
no thought to the amount of influence
which anyone possessed, or its effect
upon their future. Guided wholly by
the law and administering it impartislly
TO all. These objects can never be at
tanned go long as every official, whether
elected or appointed, depends upon in
auence for his position. The only cure
for it is to take every department except
mayor and common council of cities,
supervisors OF counties and governor
and legislators OF the state out of politics
entirely. Let all merely clerical posi-
tions aud positions requiring skill OF
certain kind be filled by passage through
the examination room of q nom partisan
civil service commission, appointments
to be for life or during good behavior,
Make merit and not political pull the
criterion. When a vacancy occurs at
the head of any department, appoint
the man for that department having
made the best record to take the head.
This would stimulate all to do their
! beat. Under such an arrangement the
large salaries which are now paid could
be cut in two, and the positions would
be- filed lust as creditably. We would
have trained policemen, trained fire.
men, trained deputy sheriffs, trained
men in every department., and If they
knew they could hold their positions as
long as they behaved Themselves, and
would not be forced to pay big political
assessments, they would willingly work
for considerably less salary.
Another result which would natur-
ally follow is, the few candidates to be
voted for would be unable to raise big
corruption fund, even if they were 30
disposed"
j. F. HUMPHREYS IDEA,
The following is proposed by Mr.. J. F.
/ Humphreys:
at is an established fact, known to
all persons posted in political affairs,
that in cities, and even in towns OF any
size, the power of the very small minor
ity of political experts, ward strikers,
repeaters and ballot box suffers abso-
lutely control the politics of their vRri-
o.s districts, against the will OF the
large majority, by THAR tactics at the
caucus, whereby this minority con-
trolls conventions, has the naming oi
candidates, selects the central commit
tee for the management of the cam
Daign, aud controls elections. Ia order
to get full and fair expression OF the
masses at an election and to thwart the
action of political trlcksters at the eau
cue, | would recommend the following
plan 30 all political parties, and that il
this or a better plan can be agreed upon,
that is by far superior to tue present
plan for the masses, and the politca
parties do not consent to its adoption
then the legislature should oe requested
At least 80 days before state 0
{ county election is held, or 20 days be
J fore city convention, all persons desil
: GUS of becoming delegates thereto, c
} either of the political parties, shoul
apply to the county or city clerk, as th
case may be, and on register kept TO
that purpose signify his wishes as Il
which convention he desires to becom
delegate. This register should close
say six days after the above dates, anC
during said fve days all persons wht
have changed their address as given OF
the last Great Register, should so notify
the clerk. At the expiration of sale
Ave days the clerk should have printed
Con the plan OF the Australian BALLOT fol
the several districts sufficient number
of ballots, and under the heading of the
several political parties. print the namet
of the would-be delegates rs req quested
all on the ballot. At the head of this
ballot there should be blank strip. say
IL inches wide, and 40 marked off by q
perforated line, upon which is room fol
the voter to write his name, and upon
which the clerk shall put the number ol
the voter and mail to the voter such bal
lot and his number as taken from the
Great Register; also enclosing a stamped
and printed envelope, in which
the voter should remRil the ballot
to the clerk, and the mail carrier
place them all in a locked box in said
clerks Office, where they should remain
until the day named in the call for
counting the same, at which time said
box should be opened by the clerk in
the presence of the candidates, as dele
gates, or their friends, and as such bal
lots are taken from the mail box in the
folded shape, with the name of the
voter and the number on the outside, it
should be compared with the register,
aud, if correct, tear off this name and
number and place the ballot in another
box, and so continue until all the bal
lots are checked OFF, after which the bAl-
lots should be counted, and the regis
tered number in the call getting the
highest number of votes from the party
which he wished to represent should be
declared elected as delegates to such
convention.
This extra expense entailed upon the
clerk could either be borne by the dele
gates pro rata. or by the candidates be-
fore nominations, by by the county or
city as the election may be. II paid by
the delegates it might insure better
class, and yet there is equity in pay
ment of the same by the candidates.
The com mittee adjourned, without
adopting any particular plan. to meet at
! the same place next Saturday at 2 pm.
Our better halves say they could not
keep house without Chamberlain 8
Cough Remedy. 1t is used in more than
half the homes in Leeds. Sims Bros,
Leeds, Iowa. This shows the esteem in
which that remedy is held where it has
been sold for years and is we'll known.
Mothers have learned that there is
nothing so good for colds, Group and
whooping cough, that it cures these all
ments quickly and permanently, and
that it is pleasant and safe for children
to take 30 cent bottles for sale by of