New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
FOR BALLOT REFORM
DR. ELIOT ON BOSSES.
I17ns Yarns Upstate Repub-
hcaHs at City Club.

William NJ Twins at a luncheon Of the
ny Sluo yesterday where the theme OF
discussion was a Reasonable Ballot" ex-
pressed his belief that the time was rim. 70
pass law providing for the Massachusetts
form OF ballot In this state He understood
ne said that Tammany Hall was prepared
10 advocate such a measure, he knew the
republican leaders OF the city were In
iaNor OF II. and the only thing that might
stand IN the way OF its passage was the
attitude OF the upstate Republicans
me City Club. holding the same opinion
IL preparing a campaign for the Massachu-
setts ballot this winter. On Friday after
noon al o'clock there will be a conference
IN the clubhouse Of representatives OF
clubs such as the Union League. the Re-
publican, the Manhattan and various civic
organizations. In the evening a dinner will
De given there in honor Of the men elected
10 the Assembly from this city. al which
uhe necessity OF concerted action on the
subject will be brought home to them
several OF the speakers at the luncheon
yesterday gave an explanation Of the pos
slnie anxiety OF Tammany Hall for the
Massachusetts ballot. as they declared
mat an analysis OF the vote Of the recent
election showed that the borough and
would not have been elected had such a
form OF ballot been in use
WANTS SHORTER BALLOT.
Charles H. Strong. who succeeded George
McAneny as president OF the City Club.
presided at the luncheon Dr. Charles w
Eliot. president emeritus Of Harvard Uni
Versity. advocated shorter ballot. bIg de-
clared that that alone would not be effec-
tive for good government He said:
No form OF ballot alone will prove a
remedy for the great evils which are
present In American politics There are
Two al least, indispensable elements in
regard 10 the election OF officials in our
country before We shall accomplish real
ana lasting reforms. one is the extension
or the Civil Service reform, because the
boss and the machine are built on first.
the salaries OF which they can dispose
the long ballot
The way TO destroy the bosses and the
machine is 10 put the entire service OF
the nation, the state and the city into
Ine control OF an independent. impartial
civil Service commission. and the next
way is 10 shorten the ballot till not more
tnan three or four people are TO be elected
al a given election
SO far I have been able TO See and
nave been looking at this thing now for
more than fifty years, the last is the most
important reform and is the most i'm
mediately pressing; and think ought TO
add Ihat without these two essential re-
forms l cannot think that even a reason
able form OF ballot will prove 10 be
erhcacious.
II that seemed 10 be a curtailment OF
popular liberty, DR.. Eliot said. he would
reply that the liberty We now possessed 20
vote for large number Of officers had been
responsible for our falling into the worst
slough Of misgovernment that the world
had ever sen.
DR.. Eliot went on 10 say that out OF four
teen or fifteen Offices for which he was
called upon 10 vote at the last election he
had heard Of only five Of the candidates.
So he simply had 10 mark every Republican
candidate, although (and ne said IL with a
SMILE he was supposed 70 be Democrat.
Dr. Eliot said il was OF great importance
that all officials whose duties required ex-
pert and technical knowledge should be
sppointive. rather than elective. and that
one might as well ask the shareholders OF
a railroad 10 elect the various managers OF
the system as 70 ask the people 10 elect
engineers and other like officials.
r. H DANA's EXPERIENCE
Richard Henry Dana. who was one of
small group OF reformers responsible for
the introduction Of the Massachusetts bal
lot in that state, showed how II had met
AL objections urged against il.
William y. Cohen. who has worked for
the Massachusetts ballot in this state, ad-
mitted that he was not enthusiastic re-
garding its chances. as the Republican and
Democratic leaders would never give up
the present ballot which was "one OF their
greatest assets
Judge Walter H Knapp, counsel 10 the
legislative investigating committee on direct
primaries. was asked 70 speak on the senti-
rnent Of the upstate people on the question OF
ballot and primary reform. He said he could
not talk of the work Of the committee. but
he asked the public 70 believe that il was
honestly seeking the truth regardless OF
political considerations. He thought that
reformers often made the mistake OF try
ing 10 accomplish results outside party
lines
Mr.. Ivins outlined the Old fight for the
Australian ballot here. IN stating that the
sentiment here was ripe for the passage OF
such a bill al the coming session, Mr..
WINS looked directly AT Judge Knapp. who
is a personal friend Of Senator Raines. and
told rim that II the upstate Republicans
persisted in opposing the measure il would
mean the loss OF the state at the next
election.
Judge KNAPP replied that there was little
sentiment on the subject upstate one way
or the other He said that the COMMITTEES
Of which he was counsel was empowered
10 recommend changes not only TO the pri
mary law, but also 10 the ballot law, and
thaf he would be glad 10 receive any sug-
gestion before making Up the report Of the
committee.