The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-12-13

have been studying with some anxiety
the effect OF plurality nominations
which are unavoidable in primary
nominations, and who regret TO see
election to any high Office except by a
majority vote. In our just resentment
against the iniquities OF corrupt con-
yentions and bossism, we have exalt-
cd the primary system that loads
heavy responsibility on a shallow
plurality II there are so candidates on
\ primary ticket. II IL conceivable that
the 10 highest who win nominations
would not have more than a small per
cent OF total vote.
There is reason therefore for strong
satisfaction that under the Iowa sys-
tom which will no doubt furnish the
Indiana legislature it's model the re-
suit In the final election two weeks
following the primary election. must
show "A majority vote. II none of the 10
meets tho approval of the voter he
cannot vote for someone else not NOM
mated or named in the primary. He
In restricted In his choice to the 10
names before him lf all the 10 nom-
inees are good and able men, ut for
public trusts. no mistake can be made
In the general election. II all are bad.
tho people cannot blame party bosses
or party conventions. They did 1t
themselves"
Plurality nominations. like conven-
tion nominations cannot always be ex-
pected to be good and wise. but there
is no other way TO select candidates
under the commission form. There are
no parties taken into account. There
fore there Is no party responsibility.
Party leaders who In theory would be
Interested, In giving nominations to
good men and true have in theory
only "a disorganized voice in making
nominations under the commission
form. In passing from political agen-
cy to popular agency. the influence OF
the citizen IL direct without the inter.
vention of parties or party leaders or
bosses.
Counterpart In the Recall.
The direct election of the commits.
sion has It's counterpart In the recall
The plan permits the people to keep
an influence over officials of the most
desirable and beneficial kind. There
arc three absolutes In qualification for
public ofiice--honesty. ability and
courtesy. know of nothing so like
" to preserve honesty In a public Of
fcial or stimulate ability or TO insure
courtesy as the recall.
The word recall" Is generally ac-
companied by the word referendum"
Tho referendum however is not In any
sense peculiar to the commission plan
The present state laws provide for
the exercise OF this power in certain
cases. The initiative. which means
that II thescommissioners fail or re-
fuse to enact ordinances or to execute
II policy favored by the people. the
people may themselves initiate 1t. is
not important.
What are the objections to the
plan? Let us give consideration to the
other side OF the problem. II is OBJ
vlora that the objection that will first
be heird is that the change will not
pre-. the good results claimed for
~ objectors say the system Is
TO be accepted as demon
=, proposition. even In the ex-
lsr.ence of Galveston. first to give IL
trial II may be granted that the
system is young. but the concensus OF
the best opinion obtainable. based on
actual results. indorses the commits
sion plan.
II is urged by some that the plan
is not American: un-American, they
say. but yet II had It's origin. as we
know II. In an American city. II
democracy's rule is American, then
the plan is thoroughly American. since
II Is u closer approach to pure
democracy than ever before. II will be
said that II derrivcs the people of that
party responsibility for good govern.
ment that wise party leaders feel. But
n muat he admit Cd that in CITY man.