St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-06-05
The Short Ballot in New Hamp-


For the past three months series
of articles has been published in
these columns explaining the prin-
ciple of the short ballot. 1t is now
announced that the New Hampshire
Short Ballot Organization has been
formed to promote the idea in this
state and especially to bring series
of measures before the constitution
al convention that meets next week.
The organization is entirely non
partisan and among its sponsors are
a number of well known citizens,
prominent in both democratic and
republican parties as well as indepen-
dents. For a number of weeks, Prof
Frank A. Updyke of Dartmouth has
been investigating conditions and the
result of his Investigations appears
in the set of proposals in a pamphlet
which has been published and sent to
all members of the constitutional
convention. This involves a thor
ough overhauling of the election ar
engagements, not only on the state
ticket but in the counties, cities and
towns.
Into the matter of the governors
council, Prof Updyke goes with great
care and shows that while this has
been most important and useful
body, it could be made of much
greater service if the governor were
allowed to appoint the members in
stead of being obliged to advise with
elected officials who are often of an
opposite party. He believes that the
council should be an aid rather than
check upon the governor. Sugges-
tions are made also for reducing the
size of the lower house of the legis-
lature by providing for single MEM
Der districts.
More sweeping than either of these
is the provision for the appointment
of all the county officers except the
three county commissioners. 1t is
argued that the sheriff and solicitor
are directly responsible to the super
ior court and should be appointed by
the court. 1t is proposed to make
the county treasurer an appointee of
the commissioners and the register
of probate and the register of deeds,
Sppointees of the governor and coun-
Gil. The terms of Office Of the COM
missioners would be extended to six
years, one to be elected every two
years.
A number of changes are also
suggested for the cities, where 1t is
proposed to separate state from local
elections and to eliminate from the
ballot entirely the overseers of the
poor, the inspectors of the check list
and assessors. In his summary DR..
Updyke shows how his proposals
would reduce the number of offices to
be voted at one time in some of the
cities from .thirty-five to six.
Since the adoption of the direct
primary system it has been found
that the expense of running for Office
i'll New Hampshire has greatly in
creased. In many cases it is said to
be practically prohibitive. In the
minds of many of the political leaders
some short ballot System must be
worked out in order to keep this cost
of elections within reasonable
bounds. But the. principle contention
is that where the number of officials
elected at one time is as great as it
is at present in this state, the aver
age voter is unable to cast an indie
pendent and intelligent ballot, but
must allow the party organization to
perform this duty for him by means
of the party emblem.-[ Lancaster
Gazette.