Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-05-08

=
NAV be made. will obviate this diffculty
IL might be well also 20 provide that presi-
entail electors should be nominated here
after by the members Of the patfOrm com
delegates TO the national conventions
The foregoing suggestions cover all that
was intended TO be included In this specifi-
cation of the call at the time IL was issued
But during the past few days persistent
and general demand has been made for the
enactment 81 non partisan election bills for
the city AID county OF Milwaukee: and the
subject has aroused so much public interest
that l feel l should not pass it by unno-
ticed.
In recent years there has been steady
growth of sentiment here and elsewhere in
favor OF non partisan city elections This
Development is based fundamentally ON the
fact that many Of the functions Of city adj
ministration have to do with neightorhoOd
affairs and the business interests OF in
dividual commuLt rs as distinguished from
governmental policies or the exercise of
delegated state authority. Hence IL IL
claimed that the issues that divide political
parties in the state and nation have at best
only remote relation to the problems OF To-
cal government. The experiment moreover
has been tried and seems 10 work we'll
Prompted b. these views and eneonr-
aged by this experience the people Of Mil
waukee have repeatedly tried to secure the
nactment Of a law that will permit non
partisan city elections Such bill was
introduced Ia the legislatures OF 1909 and
1911 and was strongly supported. 1t failed
OF enactment at both sessions. But public
sentiment in Milwaukee during the recent
municipal campaign nevertheless persuaded
the two principal political parties of the
state to forego masking nominations and
70 unite by means Of impruvised expedents
IN support Of a non partisan city ticket.
These e1pedients were extra legal. crude
and unsatisfactory. and subjected the city
TO all the dangers of selfish manipulation
and ring rule. Bat the sentiment In favor
OF non partisan elections, was strong
enough to induce the people 10 overlook
these drawbacks and even 10 approve the
rough and ready methods that were en-
ployed.
The people of Milwaukee now ask that
they be relieved of the necessity of again
reSorting TO such devices; and they will
present at this session a request for the
enactment OF a non partisan city election
bill Those of you who entertain doubt as
TO the wisdom of the principle of non
parttsanship in city elections should con
slider that the question Is no longer whPth-
er or not Milwaukee should have non perti-
san elections. IL is rather whether such
elections and the making of nominations
Leading up to them shall hereafter be con
Quoted openly or clandestuey; by the
many or by the few; pursuant to lawful
authority exercised in an orderly way SO
every or may have an equal y',"e or by
manipulation in the interests Of those who
have an axe to grind. Milwaukee has her
self already decided the other question.
1t is true that strictly speaking this is
not an emergency measure. Before another
municipal election will be held in Milwau
kee there Will be \ regular session of the
legislature at which this bill might be con-
Sldered. II Is true also that this subject
was not thought of when the call for this
special session was made. But some OF the
language of the call appears nevertheless
TO be broad enough to include IL. So the
problem is here. Believing as | do in non
partisan city elections 1 recommend the
enactment of this legislation at the present
time.
Springing from the same source as tie
city bill, aud backed In part by the same
sentiment but not supported as il seems
to me by the same logic. is de
mand also for the enactment OF a nom
partisan election bin for the county of
Milwaukee. This proposal | cannot en-
dorse. Unlike city. county is es-
sentially an administrative subdivision
of the state. Its officers as a rule exercise
state functions only. A comparison of the
duties of the district attorney Of the county
and the attorney general Of the state. Of the
clerk of the circuit court and the clerk of
the supreme court, of the county clerk and
the secretary of state Of the county treas
urer and the state treasurer will satisfy
any one that county government Is only
subdivision OF state government established
for convenience In administration. The sher-
IN and coroner are indeed the principal
executive officers of the state as well as of
the county. This being true non partisan
ship in county elections cannot be advo-
Gated logically or consistently without de-
claring also for non partisan elections in
the state. No one seriously proposes the
latter.
Another insuperable obstacle In the way
of non partisan county elections arises
from the circumstance that county officers
are elected In the fan on general election
day. Then not only county officers but
members of the legislature. state officers,
members Of congress and the president and
vice president of the United States are
chosen. II is the one day in all the year
that is openly and frankly partisan, for
the government of this country Is gov
eminent by parties. How at sueh an cleo
tion 1t is expected that non craftsmanship in
respect TO county offices can be perma
nently maintained is not explained For
one l do not think il possible. If. recog-
nizing this incongruity, IL be proposed TO
change the time of county elections to the
spring so as to permit county officers TO be
chosen at the same time city. school and
judicial officers are elected. the obvious an
swer is that this cannot be done by pass
ing a statute and SO to amend the eOnsti-
tuition will not alter the nature OF the func-
tiOns county officials perform nor the char
acter OF the county itself as an administra-
tive subdivision OF the state. So long az
state elections are partisan, county elee
tiOns will be so also.
AMENDMENT OF FISH AND GAME