The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-02
Cut 'Em Down,

Supplementary to its instructive cam
vass of the leading politicians, the rep
resentative merchants and the state
governors. the Chicago Times-Eerald
on Monday printed letters from seventy
editors Of large daily papers express
ing opinions as to the wisdom of short
ening the presidential campaign in be-
half of economy. public tranquility and
business prosperity. Out of the num-
ber less than six wrote in favor OF a
lCng contest. which is the more signfi-
cant in view Of the fact that Journal
lists, as a rule. profit by long and hotly
contested campaigns. Reviewing its
symposium the Times-Herald says
Not Il valid argument has been advanced
for the long campaign. The plea 4; made
that two or three months Is not sufficient
time to organize. Those who advance this
ella m say that this $ fact well under
stood by every practical politician. This
may be true, but il IS not understood by
the people, who pay the freight and who
have no desire to be organized by prac-
teal politicians or blackmailed for cant
pa gn purposes. There seems to be a pre-
va.fng sentiment to the effect that the
time has arrived when the average INTEL
lsence of the community has advanced to
n stage where T. is possible to record the
verdict of the people without the aid Of
hired political organizers. The people
have an .dea that 1t would be em.nently
practical to nom nate presidential tickets
in September, and. after two months de-
liberation, vote for them in November.
And. having made up their minds on the
question. they are now waiting to see Il
the majority have any weight as against
those who make politics trade.
n n M
pa gn idea Is based ts in perfect accord
with every recent progressive national re.
form. 1t naturally follows the general
adoption of the AuStraIa AN system of bal
loting. When Il became possible for the
voter to record his verdict unmatched by
he hired br' he giver the professional noli-
t'g'an received a serious setback. This
gentleman has watched the steady growth
of civil service reform with .ll-concealed
rage, and has spared no effort to defeat
the enforcement of the law. If to the
kustrafan ballot an1 clv!l service reform
there be added an unwritten law to the
effect that campaigns he shortened to the
lowest practical Emit. the day of the paid
pcitican .s ended and the rule OF the peo-
pie assured. on no question or national
policy involving a radical change N pre-
va'linG methods has there existed so
unanimous a sentiment as that in favor
of shortening the period of the presiden-
tal canvass.
The position of The Tribune on this
question has already been indicated in
its columns, and Is summarized in the
elsewhere reprinted letter Of dts editor
to its Chicago contemporary. From
business standpoint long campaigns
are a nuisance: and from a political
standpoint they are unnecessary. 1t
would be a blessing If, in addition to
shortening them. we could divide them
by two and throw one-half away This
would give the American intellect
something better to think about than
the scrambles of place-hunters who
too often mask purely selfish ambitions
behind the euphonious fiction of the
public welfare.