The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-09-12

ficers are appointed, as their services
though highly important are minis
terial, and there will be greater like
lihood of the commission selecting
competent men than of such men be.
ing secured through the present poll
teal machinery.
Nomination.
The mayorcommissioner and his
associate commissioners are nominal.
ed at a preliminary election held two
v eeks before the day of the final cleo
ton. This phase of the new plan is
thought to be very important. 1t is
not intended that there should be a
party convention as under present
conditions, and such convention
would be absolutely opposed to the
spirit and genius of the new scheme.
Nominations for the primary cleo.
ton are made by one hundred quail.
fled voters signing statement that
a certain citizen. naming him, is a
candidate for particular office. All
the names of the persons so nominal
ed are then placed in alphabetical or.
der on an Australian ballot, without
any party emblem or distinguishing
mark; it being intended that men
shall be selected for municipal Off
GERS because of their ability and in
tegrity, and not because of their atti
national policy. The sole object de.
sired is a decent, efficient admins
tration of the affairs of the city, and
the present arbitrary, non-essential
separation of citizens desiring the
same ends as far as city affairs are
concerned into antagonistic national
parties is foolish and harmful in the
extreme. The only person who gains
by this separation is the man who is
opposed to an efficient and clean 10.
cal government. At the nominating
election each citizen votes for the
iitn iol td'h olliSt W NC iiiieu' Anu
the two persons receiving the highest
number of votes for each office are
declared nominated and their names,
and theirs only, are placed on the bal.
lot for the final election.
Election.
1t will thus be seen that the ballot
for the final election in cities of the
first class will contain the names of
twelve candidates, two for mayor,
eight for commissioners and two for
auditor And in cities of the second
class there will be four less names
or the ballot than in the cities of the
first class. This will make an ideal
short ballot, one on which the voter
can concentrate his attention, and a
splendid opportunity will be afford
ed to eliminate the unfittest. Before
to successfully pass through two
election tests-the preliminary OF
primary, where his name will appear
among the names of all persons nom
mated and final or decisive cleo
ton, where he will be opposed by
but one candidate. Certainly the vo
ter will understand just what he is
doing when he casts his ballot at the
last election; there will be no scat
tering votes; the attention of the vo
ter will be fixed, concentrated on a
very simple question: choice be
tween two candidates for each office
AS in the case OF the primary ballot
no party emblem or designation will
appear on the ballot for the final cleo
ton. The character, the ability of the
candidate, should be the only consid
Grafton influencing the voter.
Election Expenses.
Within thirty days after the elec
ton each candidate is required tC
make sworn statement of the
!. amount expended by him to secure
his election; If he does no do so, his
office thereby becomes vacant. The
law should have gone further and spe
Gifted in detail the purpose for which
candidate shall be allowed to ex
pend money, and should also have
placed definite restriction on tn,
amount which a candidate shall ex
pend to secure his election. Unre
stricted expenditures, both as to pur
pose; and amount, breed corruption
and give the man of wealth an unfair
advantage over men of limited means
Organization Of Commission.
The officers elected take office OF
the first of January succeeding tn,
date of election, Immediately aftel
qualifying the board of commission
ers meet and assign to each member
of the board particular department
, 90 ,,,pni,inal apti,itV The Statut.