Semi-weekly herald., 1913-01-16
Through tha ado9lsI0h by th

people Of the pure Australian ballot,
expect to see still greatsr improve
ment. We cannot afford to tolerate
any corrupting influences in our cleo
tions. Nothing will do US so much
good abroad, where we mast look for
new capital with which to develop our
resources, as reputation for honest
elections and stable, efficient and eco-
nomical government.
As was to be expected, experience
has pointed out some defects in the
direct primary law. One of the main
objects to be attained was the elimi-
nation of conventions controlled by po-
litical trades. The assemblies held
during the past year have proven con.
ciuaively that they too will be con-
tiolled by the same influences, and
to an exaggerated degree, because of
the lack Of responsibility of assembly
action. therefore recommend that
the assembly feature of the direct pri
mary law be repealed, if it cannot be
aUieHueu W ellcStSciy S"iis out ien
original purpose.
Experience durin gthe past year has
taught US the necessity of stringest
laws to prevent fraud in the submis-
sion of initiated and referred bills.
During the recent campaign people
made business of securing signatures
~, ot IN IN nm
name Many of the petitions, there
fore, did not represent the sentiment
of the signers so much as they did
the industry and opportunities of the
canvassers. Some of the papers filed
| last summer contained large groups
of unauthorized names, doubtless put
| there by the solicitors themselves and
copied from one petition to another
| in the same handwriting. regard
this feature of initiating and referring
legislation as obnoxious as any other
scheme of corrupt machine politics
believe the people intended the ini-
tiative and referendum to be applied
where the general assembly refuses to
act or legislates unsatisfactory. To
make business of securing sigma
lures to petitions will tend to turn q
splendid system into farce and lead
to inexcusable confusion and expense
Whenever there is sufficient popular
demand for direct legislative action
by the people themselves, | have nc
fear of failure to secure the necessary
number of signatures in legitimate
way. Our past experience has dem
onstrated that the operation of the
best law passed by the legislature may
be postponed for two years at an ex-
pense of only a few hundred dollars
although the sentiment of the state
might be unanimously in favor of it
hope the action of the general as.
sembly will be so satisfactory that
there will be no general demand foi
initiating or referring bills.
At the recent election there were
submitted two measures to lower the
cost of advertising initiated and re
ferred bills. Both of these were de-
feated. 1t is imperative that some
restrictive legislation be enacted to
chapen and regulate this advertising
With biennial elections has come
new problem. Long lists of nomi-
nations and numerous political organ.
izations, to say nothing of independ-
ent tickets, have made our ballot SC
large that due consideration is not
given to it. 1t is important that some
plan be worked out to abbreviate the
ballot. This is especially true in view
of the adoption by the people at last
falls election of the headless or pure
Australian ballot. 1t will now be nee.
essary for the voter to mark for each
candidate of his choice, and am con
fident that better consideration or
the part of the voter can be secured
by the adoption of what is known a.
the short ballot.
There has grown up the custom o.
giving executive officers two terms oi
office. The apparent reason for thi.
is that people believe one term of two
years is not sufficiently long to carr,
out any definite policy. There is n,
doubt that many evils in administra
ton arise through candidacy for re
election. am thoroughly convinced
that only one term should be allowed
to elective executive officers, and tina
if an additional period of service b.
deemed advisable, the term of servic,
be extended to four years and re
election made impossible. By adopt
ing this arrangement and fixing tn
time of the state election between tn
presidential elections, the ballot woul,
be shortened, state politics to con
siderable extent divorced from nation
al politics, and voters attention b
concentrated on the direct issues in
volved.
Public Utilities
Two plans are suggested for tn
control of public utilities. The rail
road commission proposes amend
ments TO the law under which it i
operating, to make the act more ei