Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-31
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS
Representative Miller. Of Fayette
County, Enumerates Some sf
the Good Points
It Would Be Vastly More Ecomom.
ical and Secure Better
Representation.
OF Year Elections Often Fail
to Express Will Of the
Voters.


of the members of the Twenty eighth
general assembly, who was an ardent
supporter last winter of the Titus
amendment, providing for biennial cleo
tions, Was in the city yesterday. Mr..
Miller is impressed with the Importance
LOT having biennial elections in Iowa,
believing it would be economical and In
other ways advantageous. He also be-
lieNes the voters OF the state as a whole
do not thoroughly understand the in.
tent of the measure, and that many do
not appreciate its Importance. In an in
ttrNiew in regard 10 biennial elections
and the Titus amendment, last evening.
Mr. Miller said:
So far as the state of Iowa is con-
Ecerned, one of the most important de-
eisions to be given by the voters of the
State In the coming election ia the ac-
.ceptance or refusal of this amendment.
N my opinion, II has not received the.
attention due TO a matter of such i'm
portance, by the press Of the state. 1t
ought to be thoroughly understood by
every Voter what this amendment in
tends TO provide or do
he Titus amendment is simply a
provision for biennial elections
does not change the term of any
once IN state or county. but 1t calls for
me election of all such officers, in one
ei'sctlon. every other year, instead of
part OF them being. elected one year and
part OF them the following year, as has
been done go far.
Now, every election means an ex-
psRsA of from sl.500 to 81. 500 on the
average s to every county, or 5000. 900 to
Szeo'Vpo TO the state. With biennial cleo
sstoha we would gave Just that much
VERY other year, and therefore al the
"a i2se OF ten years would gave. from one
tesoiles md a quarter million dollars To.
iais ma y be added the loss of time by
liz ise. iilnlNiuuai Voter, and also the lns,s
y w ti sAiiest disturbances, which would
iti1sost double the amount given above.
TOW many miles of improved good
ieaas. or other necessary improvements
could be provided for with his i, ~
nous sum? This is the plain lanel,ap.
~ {, plain farmer ?
iiiere are some who say that we
.i.eea q campaign every year for It's no.
ltlcai educative influences. and IN ~.
Ger 10 keep office holders close ii tbas
people, but let us con- slider the effect 81
me present system IN regard To this
IA ilstefa q of keeping the voter continual.
y educated politically by an animal
succession OF campaigns. the tendency
y ratller TO tire him q really <f1,Il *rnts.
Z ne exception. not the rule. Put all
The state, district aud county candi.
oates on one ticket every twa wears
and there viii be q general interest 1 ma
VIII, bring about fun vote for cant,i-s
Gates chosen BY the people for the peo-
pie
he a n,lna elections are being aban-
cored all over the cou.try:s all but eiey-
en states IN he union have done SO. 1t
" praof 70 me that biennial elections
sfve such satisfaction that none Of The
thlrty-fye states that have, adopfed
them have any desire to go back to the
old method
During the TWenty-sevsntl, and
isWeat y-eigf.li assemblies of our laais
iature. tbs Titus amendment pending
or being before the house spared no
pains 10 get Information from large.
number of trustworthy citizens of
states having biennial elections as 10.
Its merits, as Well as OBJECTIONABLE. fea-
tures. and Invariably found that there
rs no dssire whatever to go back to the
old system. but every one expressed
iiinseli strongly in favor of biennial
Ielections
Mr. Miller also called attention to the
fact that While it had been frequently
referred n hat a separate yellow ball
dot would be used for voting on the
proposition % amend the constitution
so as to provide for biennial elections,
TT was net generally known the yellow
tspailot this Year would contain two
propositions. one of these propositions
Twill be. Shall there be a convention.to
revise the constitution and amend the
same, Tin. other is the proposition to
amend the constitution so as TO provide
| for biennial elections. From this it is
apparsnt he Titus amendment wifi ap-
pear second On the yellow ballot
Church Retedicated.
I 4 l.,ya Z. ft-i.-