The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

BureHu.J | Beneath it's surface simplicity the short ballot idea strikes rudely at some of the
 most cherished and deep rooted political traditions in American political thought. This fact made necessary, the formation | of the National Short Ballot Organiza- ton. It was founded in 1910 for a single and simple object-the education of the Amercian people to the short ballot prin- ciple Toward this end all its activities are directed.
 The short ballot runs counter to political superstitions which have been respons- ble for much of the lack of popular con- trol with the resultant inefficiency and corruption which have been characteristic of our state and city governments. It is not easy to convince the orthodox Jeffer- sonian and Jacksonian democrat that the
 election of minor officials is not a boon and a privilege, but a spacious device to keep from the common people the control of their government. The platform of the National Short Bal
 lot organization gives some of the reasons
 why this is so, when it says:
 The dangerously great power of politl-
 clans ill our country Tests on the fact that
 we are living under form of democracy that is so unavoidable as to constitute in practice a pseudo democracy. It is un- workable because,
 l It submits to poInilar election offices which are too unimportant to attract Cor | deserve) public attention, and,
 | 2. It submits to popular election so many offices at one time that many of
 them are inevitably crowded out from proper public attention, and,
 | 2. It submits to popular election so many offices at one time that the business of making up the elaborate tickets nee essary at every election makes the politi- I cal machine an indispensable instrument l in electoral action.
 The short ballot principle is: | That only those offices should be elective which are important enough to attract (and deserve) public examination 2 That very few offices should be filled by election at one time, so as to permit adequate and unconfused DuDilc eXaml- nation of the candidates.
 Obedience to these fundamental prin- ciples explains the comparative success Of democratic government in Galveston. Des Moines and other American cities that are governed by commissions" The practical programme of the National Short Ballot Organization is to educate, by tearing down the old superstition in favor of the popular election of many minor officials and substituting for it the doctrine of simplicity which has been so ably and so insistently preached by men like Theodore Roosevelt. Hiram Johnson and woodrow Wilson, who has declared that:
 | simplifcation! Simpliication is the task that awaits us; to reduce the number or persons voted for to the absolute workable minimum knowing whom you have se- lected, knowing whom you have trusted and having so few persons to watch that you can watch them. That is the way we are going to get popular control back in this country. and that is the only way we are going to get political control back Put in other elected officers to watch those that you have already elected and
 you will merely remove your control one step further away.
 The idea is not an academic one. nor does it proceed entirely along prophetic lines. But the progressive leaders are being rapidly convinced, California, af- ready. as a result of the short ballot cam pagn. has taken three officers off the elective list and has made further short hsallot progress easy by enacting con- stitutional amendment for home rule in counties.
 
 | in American cities, a growth of the II years which have elapsed since the Gal weston disaster, is the channel through which the people are receiving concrete evidence of the vast benefits of the sim plifed government. This catastrophe led to movement which has reached to the four corners of the United States, recre- ated the structure of 160 cities, and put a new note of optimism in our political thinking. So it has been deemed wise by | the organization-to make itself a national clearing house for information on this special phase of the short ballot move ment, and within the last year the organ ization has become national author l ity on this subject so far as an agency in New York city can be in touch with a movement so widespread. and at the same time so thoroughly wrapped up with local conditions in hundreds of localities. Last spring there was published a large and comprehensive volume dealing witA every important phase of commission gov ernn1ent This was edited by Charles A. Beard of Columbia university and is known as "The Loose Leaf Digest of short Ballot Charters In 1t the publish
 CTS and editors put before the more se-
 rious students of the short ballot and conn mission government the documentary ma terial upon which to base a sound and thorough application of short ballot ideas. During the last six mopths this book has been used as text. book by every im- portant charter committee and civic body studying the commission plan Ii should be understood that the national organization does not officially promote lsany specific application of the short bal- lot idea to any unit of government, And this brings US to another phase of the. l nov f. e. that of the formation of associations to find a way for the local | application of the short ballot. Already | in two, states such bodies are at work l on statutes and constitutions with a view | to making their own particular govern ments more simple, flexible and respon- ] svc to popular opinion. Tn New York
 state Is an Qrganizatiop which through