The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-11
TOO MUCH POLITICS.

1OO
Several of the candidates for nominal
tions for local county offices at the
primaries, which are less than month
away. have remarked recently on the
quietness of the campaign. They say
that the people. generally, are taking
little interest in it. They are perplexed
as to the reasons for this condition
of affairs. They are at loss to know
what it portends. And this situation,
by the way, is not peculiar to Shawnee
county. 1t prevails pretty much
throughout the entire static, and is not
confined to such struggles as are going
on for nominations for county offices.
There is a similar lethargy in the cam
paigns for nominations for state offices;
for all nominations, in fact, with the
possible exception of those concerning
the Republican presidential electors
where an unnecessary and indefensible
contest has been forced.
And while some of the candidates
may look with much amazement on
their failure to arouse the enthusiasm
of the voters over the approaching
primaries, the answer for the aisinter-
estedness of the people in their efforts
ought not to be difficult to locate. Isn't
it due to the fact that the people of
Kansas are becoming tired and sick OF
the continual round of politics that is
served up to them? One year they are
burdened with municipal primaries and
elections. The next year come county
and state primaries and elections. Then
the municipal primaries and elections
follow during the next year. And on
each fourth year come the national, |
state and county primaries and cleo /
lions. The political pot is kept boiling |
necessarily. 1t is getting so in Kansas
that no sooner than county election |
is decided, candidates begin to put in
their appearance for nominations at |
the next county primaries almost two |
years away. The same is almost true of
seekers after municipal and state Of
fees This gets mighty monotonous for
the great bulk of the people, who have
important business matters of their /
own to attend to, and who are only |
in local and state politics to
the extent that their public affairs be
transacted in an honest and efficient |
manner. AS matter of fact the people
in Kansas of late years have been
poTiticked to death. There is little |
wonder that they are beginning to
show a lack of interest in the continual
round of primary campaigns that are
forced upon them.
ONLY one avenue of relief is open.
That is to be found in lengthening the
tenure. of municipal, county and pos
sibly state offices to a single term of
four years. Under the conditions that
have prevailed in Kansas for a long
iS
candidate for a local or state office is
denied a second term unless there IS
an unexpected political upheaval on
election day, which results in the can
didates of one party being defeated
generally by the candidates of the
other party. And this being the case
there can be no valid argument against
at least the term of local and
county offices to four years. A recall
could be provided that would hold all
to their tasks or provide
for the removal of one who proved
wholly unfit. And four years term
would also be likely to increase the eff
hciency of local public service. A man
elected to office could devote all of his
time and attention to the job. He
would not have to begin to plan
anu SCHSIle DIS SOOu DIS ne entered the
office, to assure himself of a renomina- {
-ion- and reelection. Nor would it be
necessary for him to waste a good deal
IF the time the people pay him for
working in order to prosecute his cam ]
oaign for cont nuance in office. {
Undoubtedly, if primaries and cleo
ions were fewer and farther between, ]
he people as a whole would again !
show some of the interest in them that J
hey did formerly.