The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-02

aA'7
Development in Des Moines-RaDid
spread Through the Soutil-Re-
markabie Accomplishments.
ESPECIAL Correspondence Of The Even
ing PosD.
Birmingham, Ala, July 19.--Ih9
commission idea as applied to munlcl-
pa government has grown IN popular
favor at an amazing rate during the
last few years. Born less than ten
ago OF the great emergency that con-
fronted storm-stricken Galveston, it
has spread to all parts Of the South,
has invaded practically every State
in the West and Northwest. and is
steadily working its way into the
North and East. More than seventy
cities and towns ave adopted it, and
as many more have either declared III
favor OF it, or are on the eve OF doing
The expansion Of the plan itself has
been almost as remarkable as its
growth in popularity. AS applied IN
Galveston, the commission plan gave
to the people little that they did not
enjoy under the aldermanic system. SO
far as individual rights are concern
ed. Under the old system each ward
elected it's own aldermen; under the
new all voters have a voice in the Sc
lection of commissioners. The people
of Houston. Tex, in turning II the
system, enlarged their powers some
what by demanding a modified form
of referendum. Dallas, a sister city,
followed next in order and her citizens
claimed still larger powers. adopting
the referendum, the initiative. and
the recall.
The Des Moines Experiment.
Soon thereafter. the citizens Of
Des Moines, Ia, abandoned the alder
manic system for the commission plan
and, in addition to taking advantage of
the initiative, referendum, and recall
added a double election system, under
which partisan politics is eliminated
in municipal contests. Moreover, they
added a civil service feature under
which the practice of the old rule
which holds that ''tO the victor be-
longs the spoils" was made impossible.
The period from the adoption of the
commission system in it's restricted
form at Galveston to the birth Of the
Des Moines plan covered about five
years. Since then several efforts have
been made to improve on the Des
Moines plan, which is generally con
ceded to be the highest expression CT
the commission idea yet evolved but
the wisdom of these measures has yet
to be determined.
The recall feature of the system has
proved a stumbling block with some,
and efforts have been made to evolve
a scheme that would be as effective in
keeping the servant of the public &C
tive and alert, without leaving the
sword suspended above them through
out their terms. Boston, for instance,
fixes the term of the mayor at four
years, but gives. the people the right to
require him to run again at the END
of two years, if they take advantage
of the regular election in November
to express their choice in the matter
and vote in favor of his coming be-
fore the people at that time. If they
express a desire to pass judgment
upOn him., he is forced to enter ar
election and must retire at the emo
OF two years, if defeated. In brief
Boston says: BE good and we viii
give you four years; neglect our in.
terests, and we will make it two"
Nominations and Primaries.
The method of nominating anf
electing officials without invokins
party primaries has also been a mat.
ter Of experiment. In the South i
has not been possible to break awa4
from the partisan primary, but there
is an evident drift in this direction
the Des Moines plan having commend
ed itself very strongly after two cru
cial tests of it's efficiency.
Under the Des Moines plan two cleo
tons are held. two weeks elapsing be
tween the primary and final contests
In the primary election any qalifiet
voter can run for mayor or commits
sioner. nominations being made il
each instance by twenty-five voters
who sign a petition requesting tina
the name Of the candidate be placet
or the ballot and certifying to nj
character and qualifications. Whel
the result of the primary election i
ascertained, the two candidates 70
Mayor receiving the highest numbe
OF votes are given a place on tn
ucket TO be voted in the final cleo
ton, while the eight candidates TO
coHhtnlssloner receiving the highes
number of votes are entered for tli