Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-28
MORE FOR SHORT BALLOT
Democratic Candidate ouinby for
State Senate Favors Bees Plan.
SOME GO STILL FURTHER
H. r. Palmer and Henry v. Meyers
strongly In Favor of Making
BalIOtnE More Intelligent
and Easier for voter.

we need a Capitalization OF RESPONSE
hlity but a decentralization Of power
is the way Laurie J. Qulnby democratic
candidate for the state senate, expresses
his opinion on the short ballot movement
Il have always been for the short ballot
he said. commenting on The Bees sugges-
ton for making only three elective state
Offices and the rest appointive. We
want a head who does the appointing 80
that We can put our finger on the man
responsible when anything is wrong. but
We don't want to give anybody power to
dc as he pleases with the affairs OF gov
eminent without helms subject to the con-
uol Of tie people.
In other words We want a system that
VIII give us one man for administrative
purposes but the whole people for legis-
letion. That would mean that along with
this system we would have TO have an
effective recall
Furthermore. with a thoroughly work
able recall N would not be necessary to
invoke Il very much. since the men IN
office would realize its power and would
be aware OF having it invoke4 upon them.
seIf-MRde short Ballot Now.
Even today the demand for a short
ballot iE so great that voters are auto
matically creating short ballot for
themselves. by not voting al all for can
didates not known 10 them. know OF
many who. looking down the long list OF
legislative candidates could sec only two
or three OF whom they knew anything at
all. They voted for those. and although
the instructions on the ballot we're Vote
FOR twelve they simply voted for the
Two or three men they knew and then
lett the rest blank"
Yes ! favor carrying the appointive
matter into The county offices also.
Tould have a board that would appoint
county officers subject 10 the rejection
~ approval ofthe people. ! would Fix
perhaps time limit Of ninety days after
appointment, for the people to take
referendum vote on them lf they chose.
II they did not reject by referendum
vote in that time, the appointment would
stand approved, but stu subject 20 the
recall process
Palmer FavOrs short Ballot.
]. P. Palmer. republican nominee for
the House says he Is much in favor OF
the short ballot and Is glad to sec The
Fee take II up as II has - short ballot
system would absolutely In my mind
eliminate the evils OF she primary sys-
tenn" he said "As Il is man never
knows many OF the candidates on the
ballot and he absolutely has no way OF
getting acquainted with all OF them and
with their fitness for the respective Of
fees they seek. With a shorter ballot
= man would have more opportunity to
get around and searn who the candidates
are and learn something about them.
That would bring about an intelligent
vote on primary day"
Mir. Palmer is also with The Bee for "A
shorter ballot in the county. He believes
that authority could be advRntageously
centralized even further.
why. Cor example, he says could
not the county officials or ut least GER
tain designated ones, such as assessor,
treasurer. clerk. etc, themselves const-
tute the county board Of commissioners?
Why do We need all ;hese officials and
then another hoard Of county commits
sioiiers over them? Thorc Is absolutely
no need for such duplication"
Henry y. Meyers View.
Henry r, Meyers. former chairman OF
the republican county committee of
Douglas county. says he favors Tho Bees
plan. but would have Il changed to make
the rediatricting and apportioning pos
sible sooner.
The Bee suggests that the legislature
at the first regular session. after the Of
fetal federal census Is taken, shall APP
portion senators and representatives ao-
cording to population, said Meyers.
Now the first session after tho census
OF 1910 has already gone by We do not
want TO wait until the first session after
the census of 1870. That would be 1922,
The thing to do Is TO do II now"