The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-01-02
the attempt to repeal it by an over
whelminS majority.

u the attempt to repeal II by an over
2 whelmins majority.
Recall.
; A constitutional provision shouls
: also be submitted providing for tn.
D recall OF all executive, legislative anC
? administrative officials The petition
for the recall should not require more
than 20 per cent OF the voters of the
district This percentage has the APP
} prevail OF all OF the authorities on this
subject
Ballot Reform.
II the people are TO rule through
the agency or the ballot at the elee
ton primary. they must simplify oui
election primary laws. Possibly We
are under the delusioB that We have
had the Australian ballot system for
such is NOT the case. IL is claimed
that the present party column ballot
is easy for Ne ignorant voter TO vote
the straight party ticket. but II is diff
hcult for the Independent voter to
split the party ticket. The double
system OF marking the ballot with O.
circle on the top and squares at the
| side gives rise 10 endless confusion
Many voters mark the squares 10 the
side OF the first name ON the ticket,
believing that this mark votes the
| whole ticket. Election inspectors say
! that one voter in ten fails to mark his
| ballot properly, indicating that $4,000
| Michigan voters are annually disfran-
| chised, in whole or In part, by the
present complicated ballot. Our bal.
lot should be changed to the genuine
Australian ballot, similar TO that pro
vided by the Massachusetts, law. The
advantage in this ballot is, that there
Is but one way to mark II. No compli.
Gated instructions are necessary. In
voting. each candidates name comes
under the eyes OF the voter and be
places cross in front of the name OF
every man he wishes to vote for.
Furthermore, ! recommend a cor.
rupt practices act, providing for the
limitation OF expenditures and the
publication OF these expenditures both
before and after primary and regular
elections. '-A
Short Ballot.
Many citizens think that the PEG.
pie are called on to elect too many
officials. An examination Of our cleo.
ton returns for many years will dis.
close the fact that the people exer.
else much Independence In voting for
governor, some in selecting a lieuten-
aDtgoyernor. but below that Office
the candidates for the state Office re-
ceive practically the same vote re
sardless OF their individual merits. II,
for example, anything goes wrong In
the state treasuTef.s Office, the blame
Is promptly laid on the governor, al. !
though he has no control over that
office.
la the interest OF better govern.
ment and a shorter ballot, why would |
II not be good idea to submit a con.
stitutional amendment providing for |
the election of governor and lieuten.
ant-goyernor and that the remainder |
OF the elective state officials be ap.
pointed by the governor and to act
as his cabinet and advisers in state
anairs. The ballot could also be
shortened by abolishing the Offices of
circuif caurt romniS .innapo ma ~,
oners, and providing that justices Of
the peace may perform the duties Of
these officials.
Publicity for Candidates.
Ii is necessary that each candidate
should get his name and ideas on pub
lie questions before the public. News.
paper advertising is very expensive
In this form OF publicity the rich man
has an advantage over his poorer
brother. Small fortunes are frequent
ly spent to gain single office that
doesn't pay one-half Of the amount in
return salary. ! suggest that the
Oregon system OF publicity be care
fully considered In that state an
election pamphlet is published by the
state. Each candidate OF every party
paying nominal sum can have a Ger.
tain amount OF space, give his blog-
raphy and views OF public questions.
and II some proposition or enactment
Is submitted, II is printed in full In
this pamphlet and an argument for or
against by its most active advocate or
enemy is also printed. This pamphlet
is mailed at the states expense to
every registered voter ninety days be.
fore election. AS result OF this pub
licity pamphlet. Oregon has become a
great school for the study Of political
questions. ~
Election Of v. S. Senators. t., II
Congress has submitted to the yari.
Gus state legislatures for their an:
proval an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the election
OF senators by popular vote. Would
II not be all honor TO Michigan to be
the first to ratify this amendment?
II
Home Rule.
The present home rule law should
be amended SO as ~ give all cities
home rule to the fullest extant narrni. |