Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-13

II u VI i " M w IA Y
without force for aside from temporary
extention of term of Office to accom-
plish the change, the accountability
OF officers is just the same, to-wit:
Every two years. Those who offer this
argument have certainly not examined
the amendment carefully.
If the objection is made that we
ought not to elect all the state officers
In the same year, the answer is that
under the present plan the officers thai
should he divided are all chosen the
same year, viz: secretary of state,
auditor OF state and treasurer of state,
While the governor, lieutenant COVER
nor and superintendent of public in
structlon are elected at another year.
1t will be noticed that these two sets of
officers have in their respective duties
practically no connection. At the
time the amendment was under con-
sideration by the legislature, secre-
tary of State Dobson gave it as his
opinion, that the interests of the state
would not be adversely affected in any
manner II all such officers were chosen
in the same year.
By reference to chapter 35, page Is,
laws of 28th general assembly, it will
be seen that the ballot law has been
so amended, that constitutional amend
ments and other public measures
shall hereafter be submitted to sepa-
rate ballots. This amendment will
Therefore appear upon a separate, vel
low ballot handed to the voter at the
same time that the ballot for candi-
dates is given him. This separate bal
lot is subject to all the laws govern
ing ballots for candidates so far as ap-
plicable
The amendment to the constitution
must be construed in the light of the
balance of the constitution. The pur-
pose of this amendment is to provide
for biennial elections and does nos
change nor alter the provision of the
constitution requiring biennial ses-
sions of the legislature The session
of 1902 must be held as it is necessary
to make such changes in the terms and
time of election of other state, county
and township officers as will make
them conform to this amendment, (see
amendment) preparatory for the cleo
ton in the fall of 1902. Then as the
new starting point the session of 1908
becomes necessary and for the further
reason that the vote for governor and
lieutenant governor elected in the fall
of 1902, must be canvassed by the leg
islature in joint convention.
The amendment is added as section
16 to article IL of the constitution and
would thereby become the last section
of the constitution. Section 1, article
10 of the constitution reads "*
and if the people shall approve and rat
ify such amendment or amendments
by a majority of the electors qualified
to vote for members of the general as
sembly, voting thereon, such amend
ment OF amendments shall become a
part of the constitution of this state"
1T will be seen that no action of the
legislature is necessary to render the
amendment effective if adopted by the
voters.
1t was impossible to make the
change to biennial elections without
extending temporarily the terms of the
state, county and township officers
whose successors would otherwise be
elected in the year 1901. 1t has been
stated that if this amendment should
be adopted, the present general assem-
bly, would elect Senator Allisons sue
cessor at its session in 1902 This is
incorrect. Senator Allison's term ex-
pires March, 1903 and his successor
would be chosen by the general assem-
bly, elected in the fall of 1902, at their
meeting in January, 1903.
The amendment was carefully con-
sidered by the committee on constitu-
tional amendments and suffrage of the
twenty-seventh and twenty eighth gen.
eral assemblies. These committees
were composed almost entirely of law
yers and among the ablest in the state.
While the amendment was under dis
cussion in the legislature, the press OF
the state, with a very few exceptions,
commented very favorably upon it,and
urged it's passage. The newspaper
managers say they do not make mon
ey during campaign. That the polit-
ical work of the paper alienates the
advertising patron of the opposite po-
litical faith, and they state that it re-
quires several months for them to re-
cover from the loss incident to heat
ed campaign.
Nearly all classes of people dread
the approach of a presidential cam.
paign. The business men dread it be-
cause of its bad effect upon business,
the mechanic and laboring man for
the reason that he understands that if
business is disturbed by it it means
less work for him.
How frequently do we hear the re-
marks, This will not be good bust
ness year, you know it's presidential
year" Il wish we elected a president
for eight years." ETC., etc. CONNER
cial travellers are called to headquar-
tiers three weeks before election, for
the reason that their customers are
busy with politics.
Would any one for moment con-
tend tlat in view of the educational in
fuences Of presidential campaign,
the whole country would be bene-
fitted If they were more frequent? And
notwithstanding the great expense in
cident thereto Ito say nothing of the
disturbance to business) that the bene-
fits to the people justify the means?
If we admit that less frequent pres,-
Dental elections would be to the adj