Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-01-25

II
Colorado Springs, for that hustlinl
little city has gone them all one bet.
ter. Her new commission rotates, sc
that two members are elected at one
election and the three other at the
next. This Is the shortest ballot in the
country. 1t is non-partisan, of course
What a joke 1t would be for politi-
clans to tie together two nominees and
try to inspire loyalty for this on the
ground that it was a straight ticket!
And each candidate must file an affi.
davit swearing that he represents nc
political party or organization-just
himself and his prospective constitu-
ents. Not content with making the
machine unnecessary, they have made
it illegal!
The charter permits municipal
ownership and operation of public
utilities-street railways or lighting
systems. for instance power we
don't dare intrust to the authorities in
other cities. But in Colorado Springs
ment so simple that they can watch
| 1t and understand 1t and control 1t.
No rascal can sneak into power
through the blaze of scrutiny that
they can, and surely will, center on
him at election time. Light is as neces-
sary and as salutary in politics as in
hygiene.
Victory in cities, however, is not
enough; the county and the state re-
main. In Texas, for instance, the peo-
pie have recovered all the cities from
the grasp of the politicians and put
them on the short ballot basis, through
government by commissions of five,
but the professional politicians thrive
yet. There Is some talk of chasing
them out Of the state by putting the
whole state government into the hands
Of similar small commission. It is
to be hoped that this movement will
fail, and that the short ballot will be
obtained by shortening the list of
elective offices simply to the legisla-
ture and governor, the latter to ap-
point his own cabinet and all other
administrative and judicial officers
just as the president of the United
States appoints his.
Oregon has grasped the principle,
and the same forces that installed the
initiative and recall are at work to
centralize authority and lengthen
terms so that, instead of choosing a
maximum of thirty-nine officials at
one election, the individual elector
will choose only from five to eight.
Oh, yes, I heard that observation
from over there in the corner and
was expecting it. You asked: isn't
| 1t dangerously near to autocracy to
centralize the government so that the
voter chooses only two or three men
at a timer" No; on the contrary, 1t is
ideally democratic. Carrying out this
principle it is the only practical way
that the big, clumsy electorate can
rule. 1t is. therefore. the only plan
that is democratic!
The more elaborate and complex
you make politics the fewer the peo-
pie who can afford the time and energy
to take part. Too much electing,
therefore, leads toward oligarchy-the
rule Of the few.
The simpler you make politics the
more easily and the more surely will
the whole people take part. Simpli-
fcation, therefore, leans toward the
rule of the many-democracy.
Universities are now teaching the
new definition Of democracy, and the
old error, that making officials elec-
tive is enough to make them respon-
sible to the people, will die. Some
day we shall see the people Of a whole
state in control of their government
using short ballots for county and
state elections as we'll as municipal
voting for men instead of labels, and
registering complete and definite in
dividual opinions with practically
every paper that drops into the
ballot-boxes. Notice that, in this sit
uation, the citizens are all complete
politicians, doing all that is asked OF
them-since less is asked. The elec-
torate has not gone into politics, but
politics has come to the electorate
Officials will no longer be in debt, po-
litically, to some politician for cord
ing them up into his precious ticket
punches. The officials will negotiate
directly with the people for their elec-
ton and seek for the applause Of the
conduct of their offices.
In the long run efficient and clean
administration will be the normal re-
sultant Of that new balance Of forces
For the American people-you and
do want good government. And we
shall have it yet!-Richard S. Childs
in Saturday Evening Fost.