Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-16

-. - w. ~. ~ 1soSls - tAsir ~
cies In eovsrnmsnts Ard deprsvsne
then OF thar rigid. OSasa lAassusassis ~
selact their own agents Or 70 have
them appointed for merit and not "
redemption Of promises to farm ous
the public service to whomsoever
would enter into deal or conspiracy
for place. It il q part Of the politi.
cal creed Of the country TO insist up
on publicity as the panacea tor our
troubles with "big business" and yet
we 70 into . political contest some-
times with q number Of "gsntlsmen's
agreements" hidden away somewhere
in the dark. There are compelling
reasons for publicity in both cases.
but no more in the one than the
other. These practices are corrupe
and ought to be forbidden. The law
ought to make it = crime for any cam
didate for any county or state once
prior 70 his nomination or election 70
promise. either directly or indirectly
70 support or use his influence in be-
half Of another for any position,
place or Office, or to promise either
directly or indirectly to name or ap-
point another to any place. posis.on
or office. in consideration OF such oth-
er supporting him or in any way
using his influence to secure his nom
nation. election or appointments Inc
law requiring the report Of campaign
expenses ought to b amended Dy
adding to It, in substances: And
further state that ! did not at any
time. either before my nomination OF
sitter, either directly or indirectly IN
consideration Of support, promise 70
support or use my influence for, OF TO
appoint any person to any place. posi-
tom or Office whatsoever" Such .
statute would be - easily enforced ~
any other of our corrupt prscsaces
acts Tho mere fact that such prae.
tees are condemned by the law would
be Of great value and this general
assembly ought to enact such . pro-
vision as an expression OF its mig"
political ideals.
lnS 0mOIS 00AsOSs
The results Of our primary cleo
tons. and general elections a. Well,
show that not more than half OF the
voters Of the state participate in the
primary at all and that in both cleo
lions tho numbers voting decrease IS
they pass down the ticket from the
more to the less important Offices. Az
the primary elections it has not been
unusual to have difference between
the total vote for governor ana 1or
lieutenant governor and secretary OF
state, ranging from ten to nearly
twenty-five thousand, with the ou-
ference growing wider with the omces
further down. The same result Is
seen in general elections. When the
comparison is made with the vote for
presidential electors the discrepancies
are much greater. Students OF good
government are everywhere adyocat-
ing the principles Of the short ballot.
To such an extent have they gone %
TO tersely express the principle IN TINS
wav: when you want representa-
ton, elect. when yO0 WsAeAS
trntion, appoint" Progressive Thought
for by far the greater part advo-
Gates this principle. The appointing
power being made responsible for re.
suits, responsibility is located and
concentrated. BY electing' RESPONSE
bilitv i. dissipated, incapable Of def
mite location. By appointment. ad-
ministration by experts and . high
order of efficient public service may
he secured. l invite your careful con-
.i,,cration of this subject to the end
that this reform may take deeper
root in this state.
Schools.
When one comes to the considers
ton of the question of rural schools
he finds he is face to face with .
problem almost impossible OF soiu-
ton. And yet that affords no reason
why we should not grapple with 1t.
We read Everywhere of the decline
of the rural school and we constantly
hear it deplored in public speech.
From the district school OF forty
years ago with its attendance Of forty
CONTINUED on Seventh Page.)