Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-05
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PEOPLES PULPIT.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The Biennial Amendment,

Editor Courier:
Their are a few statements in your
editorial, entitled Vote Against It."
relative to the biennial amend
ment, in your paper of November 5,
that are, to say the least, somewhat
misleading.
You say that the argument that it
Will cut down the election expenses is
wrong. 1t has been admitted by many
OF the opponents of the measure that
the cutting down of expenses is the
principal argument Of the amendment.
Governor VanSant, of Minnesota, in
which state biennial elections are held,
says under date of February 6, 1902,
Biennial elections result in saving
of public funds"
You say that the ticket will con-
tain twice as many names under the
biennial system as it does now.
This year the ticket contains thirty
five names, adding all the officers,
state, county and township, whose sue
cessors are to be elected next year,
and we find only fourteen, which being
added to thirty five equals forty-nine,
this is twenty-one less than twice as
many.
If the amendment is adopted, in the
1 election to be held between presiden-
| tial elections, there will be only 80
names on the ticket, four more than
this year.
| You say that the printing presses
are not large enough to print the en-
larged ticket. All of the states about
us, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Kan
N1I>r c1yo hO1 ~ al
tions. Illinois has eleven more cleo
tors than Iowa, and presuming that
she has the same number of officers to
elect as Iowa, the ticket in that state
has sixty names against forty-nine
| in Iowa. | have never heard of any
complaint in the states above named,
relative to the printing of the ticket.
You say that graft" tiourishes in the
biennial states.
This is a serious charge to make
against thirty-three sister states.
You say that if the number of cleo
tons are diminished one-ha.f, the peo-
pie lose interest in them.
The people lose interest in annual
elections. In the years 1901, 1902 and
1903, there were an average of 600
less votes cast than at the presidential
election in 1900. Would not a large
part of this stay-at-home vote come to
the polls, if we had but one election
between presidential elections instead
of three?
Instead of encouraging grating the
biennial elections will discourage it.
The grafters will scatter and leave
in the two years between elections.
AS to slow counting the enlarged
ticket, will say that we have often
heard the returns from the biennial
states, earlier on election night, than
from Wapello county.
1 Thirty-three states have adopted the
biennial system and none have dis
carded it for the annual elections.
Senator Allison says in a letter to
Hon. G. M. Titus, of Muscatine: II
believe it is wise for this state to
adopt the policy now established in SO
many states of having biennial in
stead of annual elections"
The late Senator Gear said in a let
ter to Senator Titus: II congratulate
you on the success of the biennial
amendment, as we have too many
elections"
In conclusion will say that I have
taken very little interest in the amend
ment since it passed the legislature.
l have not mentioned it during the
campaign. 1t was adopted four years
ago by $4,000 majority, but was de-
clared void by the supreme court on
account of failure to properly enter it
upon the journal Of the house.
| was urged to re-introduce the
amendment. which | did. 1t is now be.
fore the people and will be satisfied
with the verdict they shall render
The people were entitled to have an
other opportunity to vote upon it.
i s. III. Harper.