The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-19
NEW PoLTrICAL REFORM.

Stating that the United States is the
only habitually misgov~ democ-
racy'' and the only one to have a
separate class Of professional politi-
clans, Richard S. Childs in the Outlook
of this week urges a drastic reduction
in the number of elective officials in
cities, counties and states as a means
of putting the people ION top in poll
tees.
Starting from the obvious fact that
the average voter registers a personal
opinion regarding the conspicuous
nominees only and has no opinion
whatever to express regarding stale
treasurer, county clerks, etc, the au-
thor urges that the minor places should
all be filed by appointment This
would result in short ballot con-
tanning only a few names and the
limelight of public scrutiny would
focus upon them so intensely that all
voters could and would discriminate
without having to "go into politics" to
get their information.
After tracing the connection between
the present typical long ballot and gov
eminent by politicians the writer con-
cludes as follows:
Good government is entirely mat
ter of getting the right man elected.
Nothing else is so vital. No city char
ter or state constitution, however in
gepious, will make bad men give good
government or keep good men from
getting good results.
ITO get the right men is first of all
a matter of arranging for the maxi
mum amount of concentrated public
scrutiny at the election. 1t is not SUI
perior intelligence in the British cleo
torate that enables it uniformly to-
elect the best men in town to the city
councils, save in that the individual
voter in the ward selects only a single
officer at election, and can hardly fail
to know just what he is doing. Like
wise there cannot be a mysterious
virtue in the new plan Of governing
American cities by small commissions
Che es of whi~- in Galveston,
Houston. and Des Moines is unde-
niable) save in that the Importance and
consciousness of the five commits
attract so fierce a limelight
at election that no unworthy figure
who vent into that blazing circle
can hope to conceal his unworthiness
from the eyes OF even the most care |
less voter.
THE Galveston plan would pc Detter |
vet If the commissioners were elected
one at a time for long terms in rota-
ton. Then public scrutiny at election
would focus still more searchlngly on
the candidates, and merit would in
crease still further in value as a po-
litIcal asset.
I'VE must manage somehow to get
our eggs into a few baskets-the bas-
kets that we watch! For remember |
that we are not governed by public
opinion, but by opinion as-ex-
pressed-through-t the pencil point Of
Voter in his election
booth. And 49, may be a vastly diff
ferent thing! Public opinion can only
work in broad masses. clumsily. To
make a multitude Of delicate decisions
Is beyond its coarse lowers. 1t can't
Dlay the tune it has in mind upon our
eIose-stringed political harp, but give
t a broad keyboo-5 ~f~aple enough for
It's huge slow hands, and it will thump
put the right notes with precision!
There is nothing the matter with
Americans. We are by far the most in
electorate in the world. We
are not Indifferent. We do want good
government. And We can win back our
inal freedom on a short ballot basis:"