The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-06
WHY We ARE
Political Science AS
ISOLATION Publishes
an Analysis of the
Causes =: =: :: ::

R not D">> have de ,'',1n' GOV, GOV.
eminent in the United states
because The citizens are
sualnped with more political duties
than they can or will perform. and
we shall never attain democratic gov.
eminent till we get the short ballot
This was the theme of a brilliant DIS
cussion at the last meeting of the
American Political Science association
In New York, participated in by col
lege professors and leading writers OF
spoliticai reform, with A. Lawrence
Lowell, president of Harvard. in the
chair The nucleus of the discussion
was furnished by paper entitled
Need of Simplification In the Methods
OF Popular Control of Government.
This paper was approved by all pres
ent and has now for the first time be-
come accessible to the public through
its publication in the annual volume
of the proceedings of the association.
The following are significant extracts:
The theory of an election Is some
what as follows: 1t is known that on
q certain day the people are to select
an officer to perform on their behalf
certain duties and to hold certain pow
ers. The office is made desirable by
reason of the salary and honor and
power attached to it. Various asptr-
ants for the place come before the pub
lie by one method or another. make
known their qualifications for the of
fee, explain the policies which they
desire to put into effect through the
power attached to that Office, and the
voters 60 to the polls on election day
and indicate on the ballot which OF the
aspirants they prefer.
This process constitutes an election
as fondly imagined by those who
first framed our various constitutions
and charters. This idea of an election
is perfectly sound and perfectly prac-
teal. 1t has, however. certain distinct
limitations based on familiar facts of
human nature, and In the United States
these limitations have been stupidity
overstepped.
The Limitations Of Control by Election
The theory of an election as out
l..sd presupposes that the voter Is
III have an opportunity to get some
kind Of acquaintance with the claims
OF. the various asprants for the office.
II he fails to DO this it Is inevitable
that his vote will be unintelligent and
s,..Si,, controlled by those who have a
st.t. ial and private interest In the cleo
risa
II the voter in large community ID
to know the candidates 1t is necessary
that the latter secure proper amount
Of publicity SO that each candidate
shall become in the mind of the voter
a definite. mental picture-a picture 80
definite that the voter will develop a
preference based on adequate informa-
ton. 1t must be evident that there is
a limit to the. number Of elections
which can be held simultaneously
without blurring these mental pictures.
-Anl man must admit that it would
tons IN one day No voter could re-
member several hundred candidates.
even If he tried to do so IN systematic
fashion, and a system which put the
names Of several hundred candidates
for a hundred offices upon the ballot
without the aid of some guide or
trademark label would result in con-
fusion, out of which would emerge as
victors not the candidates who were
most successful in getting votes. but
those who were least unsuccessful 1t
would be like fetting school children
vote, and the result would have no sig.
nif1cance as an expression Of opinion.
The same condition will be true of q
ballot which has much less than 100
places to be filled. 1t VIII be true, in
part at least, at any election where a
nonpartisan ballot would be imprae
ficable.
Take the ballot you voted at the last
election Cut 1t up with a pair Of
shears aud paste 1t together with the
party lal,els eliminated. so that fer
the Office of county clerk. for instance
yon will be compelled 10 choose be
tween Smith aud Jones and Robinson
II on locking over rhis ballot you fad
that you are lost without Fhe party
label TO guide you. that yfsir Hote for
certain .Affces was without knowledge
or intelligence 10 that extent yaH VI i'll
know yna have noI been exercising
contrai. Dut. have BY Al kind "f !.raAy
giyin. Delegated Your share III tie
central Of those offices 10 same .ile
else
A voter who votes blindiy Is heing
bossea Very fsw roiers. even The
iil.feri.te ytle "A ballet snf.ttln hiii.tliy
Even The italian s;t,ei Iii - f. ..i
bly, has certain feit>s,.i.s. Tar :,... n in"
A ar I; f3r governor i'll; ..,,.r, .i:ies
lean ri1ieeE. win ih,. ...cpi,Ii, IL II Ia,
professional. p-.l,i. i..i..-. f.tr-' isi: ,.s5
on ceri...i-I,arEs .: az Elil .:id i: u
that -Afef.t being fas.,.,!
The Fhencnsno., u Ata.i,y."
The vide acceft.s.,i.- IL /. = Ill is
commonly denounced ,,S -'aisi,hy' cr
"iEdifis renee, - and people sly '-sh,
citizens ars. hs.se. Mn;i "..li h 20.
fticiaHs are awake" /, l. in ancient
libel. Afaerieiin <.-i,i--ii~ afe a. d
whois n" titoit naturally apatlletie
.haL he fiEi2eiis 81 ans ather demo
craft. ...ii.,i II rhe su:sshsrs of elias.
gov ar.-.. ..st:i2hf ia Il i.nd. III fs,iaa.
GS:s.llll At eunne!i-d ia haid a few