Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-02-02
MEN AND MEASURES.
CAN NOT THE TWO BE sEPARA.
TED AT ELEcTloNsP


One OF the chief sources OF political
trouble Ia this country Is the fact that
the people have to vote for men and
measures by the same vote.
This arises from tile fact that they
can only vote for measures by voting
for men who represent these mensures
Consequently, II the man ind the
measure do not both suit the voter he
must either vote for II man he does not
want or vote fot u measure he does not
want
The consequence Is that man may
be nominated for an Office for which he
Is nortoriously unfit, but II he huppens
TO represents popular measure he IL
elected. The voter cannot vote against
the measure also,
On the other hand u popular man
may, and often Is used 20 carry through
an unpopular measure The political
managers often use this plan TO secure
the success OF measures which the poo
pie do not want They nominate q
well known and popular man and
make the campaign on the merits Of
the candidate, And the voters, In Or
der TO vote for the man whom they
want vote for measure which they
don't want. The man and the meas
ure being inseparably combined, they
can't vote against the man without
voting against tho measure, and they
can't vote against the measure without
voting against the man.
This system interfercs with the Sc
lection OF men on their merits, and
gives the Offices TO those who have tho
best political pull.
The remedy is very simple.
Separate the two things,
Let tho people vote for measures by
themselves. Then they can pick the
best men for each political Office with
out having TO sacrifice their principles
by voting for measures attached to
The man.
At present, II man IN every way
fitted for the Office Of sheriff happens
10 be free trader, protectionists will
not vote for him because such vote
would be vote for free trade" And
yet his opinions on the tariff would
have nothing TO do with his fitness TO
fill the Office OF sheriff.
At present, IL n man who favors the
gold standard Is u candidate for police
judge, free silveritcs will not support
him, because vote for him would be
vote for the gold standard" And
yet a man might be gold bug and be
the best man in the city for police
judge, His opinions on the money
question would have no influence one
way or thr other In regard to his fit
ness for the Office OF police Judge,
And 80 IL goes with the whole list
Of offices from assessor up to president,
Men are selected for offices which have
nothing to do with legislation, accord
ing to their views on legislative ques-
tions.
And the conscientious voter votes
his party ticket straight" because to
do otherwise might endangcr the cause
in which he Is so interested.
II will not do to say that the voters
ought to select the best men for the
various Offices Under our present
system they cannot without doing in.
jury 10 the cause in which they are
concerned
II Is q fnct under our present sys.
tenn, that vote for free silver sher-
in is help TO the cause Of free silver,
and u vote for protectionist police
Judge is help to the cause of protec-
ton.
And the more conscientious men are,
the more they remain in a party be-
cause OF real devotion TO the prlnci-
pies IL represents, the more they will
feel IL their duty to vote the ticket
straight"
No men were ever more conscien-
Liously devoted to principle, or more
earnest in desire for good men in Of
flee than the prohibitionists, but that
lid not cause them to look over the
ballot and select the men who were
most thoroughly fitted to fill the Of
Aces On the contrary their motto
was.
Don't you patch II,
Don't you scratch It,
Vote the ticket straight"
And under our present system they
we're right They could not vote for
men on the tickets OF other parties,
without giving an endorsement to the
principles OF those parties.
1t is not the people who are at fault.
q is the system.
And the only way TO get rid Of the
vii Is to change the system.
Direct legislation will remedy the