Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-04
Trend of Public Opinion as
to the Biennial Elections
Amendment In Iowa
THE OPPOSITION is STRONGER
Sentiment in Its Favor Apparently Not
as Strong This Year as Two Years
Ago When Majority of Over 10000
Was Cast for the Measure-General
News of Iowa.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican,
Des Moines, Nov. 4. - During the
mast few weeks the discussion of the
proposed biennial elections amend
ment has assumed sufficient proper
lions so that it is possible to form
some idea of the trend of public opin-
ion on this question, SO far at least, as
it is represented by the expressions
in the newspapers Of the state.
The biennial elections amendment
was submitted at the general election
in 1901, at which time it received 1885,
105 to 1861 votes in the negative, or
majority of 8o,599 in favor Of the
proposition. The total vote cast for
and against the amendment was SAL
Gil, or nearly 100000 less than We're
cast at the same time for the state
ticket.
Present Agitation Of the Question.
When the amendment was submit
| ted before, there was very little dis
cussion as was shown by the light
! vote. AT the opening, of this cam
paign. there was for a time little said
on the subject, and that little was gen
orally favorably to it. AS the cam
paign progressed, however, some of the
leading newspapers began to declare
against the plan of biennial elections,
and, within the past six weeks the dis
| cussion has been taken UP pretty
| thoroughly by the papers In all parts
of the state. The principal papers,
both dailies and weeklies, TEEN with
extracts pro and con, and 1t seems that
a decided majority Of these papers at
this time oppose the amendment.
How the Newspapers Stand.
A careful study of the editorial col
unns Of the leading papers turnout the
state, shows that in 35 counties, the
prominent papers are very strongly a
gainst biennial elections; in II coun
ties they are just as strongly in favor,
and in 5 counties, the leading papers
are divided on this question. About
half "A dozen Of the stronger newspap
ers publish extracts, and communicate
ed articles on both sides of the ques-
ton, without edtorially endorsing
either side, while in something like
score Of counties the papers explain
the effect of the amendment without
taking any position.
Arguments Pro and Con.
The supporters of the biennial cleo
ton proposition base their arguments
largely upon the claim of economy, and
that the holding Of elections only once
in two years would lessen the turmoil
and disturbance of business, resulting
from annual campaigns. 1t is also
charged that annual elections give
greater opportunity for officers to form
machines for the purpose Of perpetual
ing their tenure of Office. These are
the principal arguments and the claim
is made that an election costs the peo-
pie of Iowa from $1OO 900 to $4,000.
| The opponents of the measure allege
that there is little ground for the claim
of economy in biennial elections. They
show that the election held last fall
would cost man who owned $1,000
worth of property, in an average coun-
ty, about 25 cents, and it is claimed
that the advantages of annual cleo
tons more than overbalance this small
saving. AS important newspaper as
the Sioux City Journal, which doesn't
take sides as to the merit of the prop
osition, says that the main point of
contention is, whether the attention de-
voted to the annual election is harmful
or helpful" The journal doesn't think
that the question of cost cuts a suffi-
cient figure to warrant much consider
alton.
The general trend Of the argument
in opposition to the amendment is, that
the people are entitled to full and
fair consideration of state issues with
out any interference of national ques-
tons of any sort This would be i'm
possible in the case of biennial cleo
tons, for, at the election following
presidential years, congressman would
be elected and this would drag ma
tional issues into the campaign. AS
an example of this "mix-up" present
conditions in a number of states, and
especially, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
are cited, tho it is claimed by Former
Senator Titus, the original father of
the amendment that the people of NJ
nesota and Wisconsin are well satisfied
with biennial elections. Secretary Shaw
in his recent speeches in Iowa opposed
the amendment on the ground that po-
litical campaigns serve as an educator
for the people, and he made the point
that "these states which are influential
in national affairs, and send the bright
est man to Washington are the ones
who hold elections every year. while
the states that hold elections every two
years have the least influence in ma
tional affairs"
The claim is also made that the
washington crowd" would have alto
eether too much to do with state cleo
tons. if they were held b1ennially and
congressman were to be selected each
time One paper goes to the extreme
of charging that eff the biennial cleo
tions law carries, Iowa machine poll
tics will rule every county and the
state at large in five years.
In regard to the selection Of county
officers the opponents of the amend
ment call attention to the fact that
county treasurers and auditors Won Id
both he elected at the sat,'a time and
not alternately, as under the present
system and that it might happen that
jnexperienced men might be selected
for both Of these important positions
which. they claim, might give rise to
complications in the management of
these offices.
Trades and Labor Assemblies Oppose
The trades and labor assemblies of
Sioux City. Clinton, Oelwein, Burling-
ton. Muscatine, Davenport, Cedar Rap