Bisbee daily review., 1912-12-25
THE DEMOCRATIC
 POSITION IN STATE.

INN tN SiH Gs
 The democrats have strong posi- ton in this state. which they have won largely through the deep rift in the republican ranks. There is among some Of the leaders a tendency tc try to confirm this position by meas ures that will appeal to the radical or
 Progressive sentiment which has spit the opposition So far as the appeal is made to the sincere progres- sives. who desire a real reform of our politics and real strengthening of the. control of public affairs by de- Iberate public opinion. more lree from, the dictation or the manipula. ton of professional politicians, it is sound and needed. But the line of dis elimination between effective and sham, or illusory, reform should be clearly drawn and closely followed.
 The one fact that stands out in the situation is the utter impossibility of any extended change for the better So long as nine-tenths of the voting at our elections is done, and must be done, blindly. While this remains true, the direct primary, the initiative. and the referendum-we decline to consider the recall as a reform at all-are worse than useless. What ever good there might be in them is nullified by .he physical and mental impossibillty of getting under our present system, an honest, telling ex. pression of a reasoned decision by the voters They are, as we say. worst than useless because they increase the number and confuse the process Of elections, and must, in the long run. give the professional politicians a stronger hold on the management of public affairs than they have had in the past They may have a deceptive success while they are new and pub lie attention and interest are con. ccntrated upon them, but when these die out the grip Of the politicians will be found tighter and more strangIing than ever. We have no doubt that with time. discussion, and the study O. experiments elsewhere this will be plain to the honest and sober progress siyes. If they are to be won, it must be by another appeal based on facts as they are and promising the sub stance, not the mere show, of reform.
 This the democrats are in a posi- tion to make. though it will require good deal of courage and uncommon sense to make it. Happily the leader or the party in the state, the newly elected governor, has shown in other fields that he has a liberal share of these qualities along with an honor able ambition to secure the conf. Genee of the people He can do much  if he takes the right line. The right line is in the direction of simplifying elections The most convenient name for the policy is The Short Ballot This must be taken, however, in al fuller sense than is usually implied. It involves, first, Appointment instead of election to all offices that can rightly be filled by appointment How very large the number of those is Is clearly shown in the operation of thsI United States government, where only the president and congress arc elected. Second, the offices to be filled by election shoula no- only be reduced to ;he lowest nHinser, tut as few of them as is practicable shchld be hlied' at any one election, so that the choice of the voter should be flled at. any one election. so that the choice of the voter should be sim pie. and his mind concentrated upon t. A striking example of this isI