Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-13
TOO MANY ELECTIONS.

Aus "a tDtLiNhn NptcE Nv unuOdbitdil | ,
called upon too frequently TO exercise
his right Of suffrage. He is required
to vote for too many officials. In most
STAKES there are at least two elections
q year, each Of these being preceded by
primary elections or caucuses. The
voter accordingly has to concern HIM
self four times q year concerning his
choice Of candidates and policies. This
is indeed serious burden to the
business man. Our elections should
represent careful and deliberate con-
sideration OF public questions and can
didates. What opportunity does the
average voter enRrossed with business,
social and worry often church duties
have to give expression to his matured
Judgment on current affairs at four
separate elections? H..
OF late there has been discussion Of
the lengthening Of the presidential
term to prevent the too frequent recur-
renee of the political upheavsls which
attend quadrennial campaigns. A some
what similar movement, inaugurated
some years ago, resulted In lep9thsn-
ing the term OF governors and other
state officers except IN New York and |
Massachusetts where short terms still |
prevail. In the former the govern IN |
elected for two years; In the latter for |
one year. 1t Is rather curious that |
these two States, which have taken |
the initiative In so many political ex-
periments and departures should be 80
tardy la lessening the evils attendant |
upon short terms and frequent elections.
In many States the governors term 10
now four years and OF other States
officers correspondingly long. As most
of these officials have purely admins
trattve duties to perform there is no
reason why they should not be elected
for good behavior and continued ability
to discharge the duties of office; or
better still appointed By the governor
for indefinite terms.
In q natural reaction from the cor
ruption and inefficiency following from
an Irresponsible and unsafeguarded
exercise Of power by a single head
holding office through heredity our
forefathers felt that the only solution
lies in the direction of electing every
Official, no matter what his function,
for short terms on the principal Of
rotation IN office. The feeult has been
far from satisfactory. In certain
directions 1t has been little less than
disastrous. fortunately the practical
genius Of the American mind found a
substitute; but for which we would
have had chaos. This substitute party
urganization--has now become master
of the situation and q fresh difficulty
Is confronting us How to escape from
the evil effects of the predominance of
party spirit and undue party adherence
and feslty.
An examination of the laws Of the
several States on the subject OF elective
Offices discusses that the American
people still believe in the elective
system. That they have not altogether
gotten away from fear of oonoeu
tration OF power and authority in q
single head; that they have yet to
learn the fundamental truth involved
10 Chief Justice Ryan's dictum Where
you want skill, appoint; where you
want representation, elect.
For Instance, in Florida, at the
November l1e00) election, the voter
was required to vote for four presi-
Dental electors; one congressman, one
governor, one justice Of the Supreme
Court, one secretary Of State. one
attorney general, one comptroller, one
State treasurer, one superintendent Of
public instruction, one commissioner
of agriculture, one railroad CON-
missioner, One member Of the House
OF Representatives, one judge, one
clerk of the Circuit Court, one sheriff,
one tax assessor, one tax collector, one
county treasurer, one county surveyor,
there district superintendent OF public
institution, one justice Of the peace
and one constable, in all, "a Offices
counting the presidential electors as
one) for which there were So oandi.
dates. In addition, eight constitutional
amendments were submitted to the
voters for acceptance or rejection.
In Pennsylvania, the voter, il be
lived in Philadelphia, had to select
80 presidential electors, an auditor
general, two Congressman at largs anc
one district Congressman, @ State
Senator lin one-half OF the distriots),
one member of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, lin sumo places two and il
others threel city treasurer and I
register OF wills, IL Offices for which
there were GAG candidates.
In Massachusetts there were to b,
elected Is presidential electors, on,
governor, one lieutenant-governor, on,
secretary, one treasurer. one auditor
one attorney general, ons Congressman
in each district, one councillor, ON
Senator, three Representatives, on
county commissioner, one register o
deeds and one county treasurer, In 81
l6 offices, for which there wore Ii
candidates,
1t is in the Western States, however
where the tendency to multiplicity ha
reached its fullest development. Takin
the official ballots for last November
election and Including the Presidents
electors, we find that there were 9
Offices to be filled in Washington, wit
llS candidates aud one constitutions
amendment In California, there wer
p offices, 88 candidates and eigt
constitutional amendments. In Utat
Al offices and lab candidates.
Wyoming, rs offices and 81 candidate
and ons constitutional amendment. |
Arizona where there were no pres
Dental eleotorsl q Offices and AS car
didates, In Nebraska, 30 Offices az
"a candidates. In Montana, 80 ofiiol
aud 207 candidates. In South Dakot,
40 Offices and l43 candidates; II
Offices to be voted for being four pres
Dental electors, two Representative
one governor, one lieutenant gcverno
one secretary of State, one Sta
auditor, ons State treasurer, OF
attorney general, one superintendel
public instruction, one commission
Of school and public lands, one raj
road commissioner, one Senator, tl
Representatives. one clerk Of Il
Court, one county treasurer, Of
recorder OF deeds, one sheriff, OF
county auditor, one State attorne
one county judge, one snperintende
Of schools, one assessor, one corone
ona surveyor, four Justices of Il
reace,. four constables, three coun