Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-10-27

DeSsle WaGSOu, ray 1lCterlngCOn,
Jessie Hoover and Olioene Hubbel
have made arrangements to give
halloween party at the Park hotel
and will invite in all their acquaint-
ances and friends that they usually
associate with.
Biennial Elections.
The proposed amendment to the
ennial elections should receive careful
consideration at the hands of the vot.
ers this fall and be voted AGAINST.
There are but two arguments advanc-
ed in it's favor; one, that the cost of
elections will be less to the state and
counties; the other that the attention
of the people will be directed toward
political matters less frequently than
at present. Granting both the above
propositions, the question arises, ''Is
the saving of expense and the avoid
ance of political excitement sufficient
compensation for the loss of the edu-
cational features of the annual cam
paign? The election campaign is the
political school of the voter. Few,
save politicians Cor those who consider
themselves such) give much attention
to political matters, except during the
political campaign. The average vot-
er of Iowa is man of affairs whose
time is largely taken up with matters
of personal interest to himself and, ex-
cept when his attention is specially
directed thereto takes little time to
thoroughly investigate questions not
pertaining to his individual business.
This, [ think is characteristic of
most of us, and, as national and party
conditions are constantly changing, is
it advisable to deprive the voter of
part of his opportunities of keeping in
formed of existing political conditions?
1t is something different for politi-
cal combination to successfully work
their schemes when the people are in
terested and alert, but when the mass
of voters think there is "nothing do.
ingo the wires are strung and when
too late they find themselves helpless
knowledge of governmental affairs
and party principles is conducive to the
highest type of citizenship and is most
readily obtainined in political cam
paigns. The saving that will be made
by the biennial system is not sufficient
to compensate for the loss of the edu.
cational features of annual elections.
The proposed amendment takes
from the people temporarily the right
to elect their own officers. If half or
even more, than half the counties in
the state each give majority against
1t and the vote in favor of it in the
other counties is sufficient to overcome
their negative vote the officers elected
in 1903 for two years in the counties
voting against the amendment will
have their terms extended one year,
being virtually elected by NoN-REsI-
DENT voters.
| This is equivalent to one term in the
house, half term in the senate for
twenty nine senators and several To-
cal officers in each county. This would
have been avoided had the amend
ment taken effect subsequent to the
election of 1905; then if adopted we
would have elected officers for the ex.
tended term.
so FAR as know, no reason has been
given for this attempt to keep men in
office by legislation. 1t certainly is an
inducement for each officer interested
and his friends to support the mea-
sure. 1t also appears to be in conflict
with the spirit of the constitution
which prohibits members of the legis-
lature from accepting during the term
for which they were elected, any office
of profit which was created, or the
emoluments of which were increased
during such term, except such affairs
as may be filled by election by the
people art. 3. Sec. 2D True no office
is created nor the emoluments increas.
ed except by extending the term, Civ
ing to representatives the pay of a full
term and to twenty-nine senators that
of half term with no expense of time
or money for campaign. Admit that
the officers for the short term are sub.
mitted to vote Of the people, it can
not be said truthfully that the offices
are filled by election by the people,
for the NOMINATIONS are made by
legislative action and we have no
choice as to candidates; its mustard
and bacon or no dinner"
The vote the amendment receive d
in the last legislature deserves some
consideration. Several members of
each house explained their votes by
saying that they voted for it because
their constituents had approved it
when submitted to the people in 1900.
Sixteen representatives aud twelve
senators also voted for it whose dis
tricts each gave a majority of votes
AGAINST it at the same election and it
| IL worthy VI noIe IuaC none OF CnOSe
whose constituents had, by their
votes, instructed against the amend
ment gave any reason for their vote in
its favor. Some, not however, mem.
bers of either house suggest that the
gentlemen above referred to thought
their constituents had changed their
opinions regarding the matter during
the three years since the election Of
1900. 1t is difficult to see any reason
for such assumption as appearances
for the last four years have indicat ed
/ that OppOsition to biennial elections