The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-03

inc agency OF the U8ilot ~ tho 0t0C
tion primary. they must simplify our
election primary laws. Possibly we
are under the delusion that we have
had the Australian ballot system for
many years. but, as . matter OF fact
such is not the case. It IL claimed
that the present party column ballot
is easy for the ignorant voter to vote
the straight party ticket but It 10 diff
flcult for the Independent voter to
split the party ticket. The doa >le
system Of marking the ballot with a
circle on the top and squares at the
side gives rise 70 endless CO ~
Many voters mark the squares 10 -.a
side Of the FIRST name. on the tic:slt
believing that this mark votes tsft
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 it, No compli
Gated instructions are necessary. In
voting, each candidates name comes
under the eyes of the voter and he
places a cross in front OF the name OF
every man he wishes to vote for.
Furthermore, j recommend cor.
rupt practices act, providing for the
limitation of expenditures and the
publication of these expenditures both
before and after primary and regular
elections.
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 lieuten-
ant-governor, but below that Office
the candidates for the state Office re-
ceive practically the same vote re-
CARELESS OF their individual merits. II,
for example, anything goes wrong in
the state treasurer's Office, the blame
is promptly laid on the governor, al
though he has no control over that
office.
In the interest OF better govern
ment and shorter ballot, why would
1t not be a good idea to submit q con.
stitutional amendment providing for
the election of governor and lieuten-
ant-governor 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
affairs. The ballot could also be
shortened by abolishing the Offices OF
circuit court commissioners and cor
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. I 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 GER
tain amount of space, give HIS bio5
raphy and views Of public questions,
and IL 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 OF
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 pull
7 licity pamphlet, Oregon has become 4
great school for the study Of political
questions m
Election of U. S. Senators.
! Congress has submitted 10 the Varf
GUS state legislatures for their APP
prevail an amendment to the federal
1 constitution providing for the election
of senators by popular vote. Would
1t not be an honor to Michigan to be
the first to ratify this amendment?
49, Home Rule.
The present home rule law should
] be amended so as to give all cities
home rule TO the fullest extent permits
sible under the constitution. Particu.
larry should the law be amended so as
to provide for the recall of all munich
pal officials and direct legislation by
initiative petitions signed by not less
than 10 per cent of the electors; also
for the separation of municipal elec.
tons from the general November cleo,
tons.
The people at the last elec',,n
4