Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-11-29
SHOULD PAY
COST OF RUNNING
FOR OFFICE IS
THE LATEST
Professor Blackmar Evolves
Plan Whereby It Would Be
Easy for Any One to Break
Into Political Game.
PRIMARY SYSTEM rs
MERELY A HARDSHIP

Lawrence. Kans., Nov. ss.--IlunninG
for office ought 60 be- as free from
expense. OF almost so, as the right
10 vote. This innovation IN politics
was advocated by Prof. v. W. Black
mar IN n lecture today. The professor
declared the state should by establish
Ing bureau OF information, make
Il unnecessary for candidate 70
spend large sums, first IN a campaign
for the nomination and later In
campaign for election. The state bu-
reau should supply the voters with
Information which each candidate
may furnish concerning his principles
and qualification for office. Professor
Blackmar told his sociology class in
this way the poor hut honest cnndt
date will not be frozen out" by the
candidate who IL backed by large
financial interests.
Means a Double Campaign.
''Thc primary law has taken from
the candidate for office tho support
of the convention and 10 great ex-
tent the support of his party" said
Professor Blnckmar. The candidate
stands practically alone. He 10 OBJ.
liged 10 conduct a double campaign;
one for nomination and one for cleo
tion. Ho must rent halls and buy
space In newspapers 10 declare his
principles and his qualifications for
the office he seeks.
AN this takes more time and mon.
ey than the average man can afford
II n man were seeking employment
In a bank or factory would Il not be
absurd To force him to spend his firnt
years salary 10 get the placer II IL
equally absurd for the stnte TO require
OF Its employees such sacrifices.
III the people are 10 assume the
burden OF selecting men TO serve
pense OF securing good officers. A
state bureau Of Information should be
established 10 send out descriptive
literature OF ali state candidates for
office. so that all the voters may he
informed OF the character and quallf,-
cations Of officers. The county and
the legislative district should do the
same for their candidates This
would relieve the person seeking the
Job from a part OF the harden Of ex-
pense and place part Of II upon the
people who employ him. Under such
conditions poor but honest man
might have chance for an Office
without going deeply into debt"
Would Aid In Drawing Bills.
Professor Blackmar would not have
the services OF the bureau end with
the dissemination Of information
among the voters. however. The
gathering OF data to help Legislators
In drafting laws that will do the
things they are designed to do would
be a part OF the work Of the bureau.
ITO carry out, successfully. modern
reform movements In government and
legislation, a bureau OF legislative In
formation Ii Indispensable he con-
tinued. Wherever II has been tried
legislation OF high grade has been
enacted. Such bureau OF assistance
In making laws and In gaining infor.
nation about laws TO be enacted.
For both these bureaus university
men might be drafted Into the serv-
ice. Persons OF tegai knowledge ana
those well yersed In political science,
practical legislation, economies and
sociology should be- connected with
the bureau OF Legislative Information
Laws could be- drafted and sent 10
prominent lawyers. economists and
publicists In different states Of the
union. Thus would the results based
upon tho best experience Of tho ma.
tion's Intelligence be assured"