Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-08
Short Ballot Talks

Norfolk News: A proper test TO determine whether
or not need the short ballot Nebraska might be
made by voter II he could take ballot such az
was cast at the recent primary determine for him
self how many Of the candidates whose names ap-
peared on II he was really in position to judge to
fitness. ability and integrity Aside from aspirants
for governor the average would find perhaps two
or three names OF OF whom he felt reasonably
sure For the rest of the ticket he must II blind
trusting to luck that he may not help nominate
scoundrel or incompetent Is It not reasonable to
suppose that the acting with without the
advice of the senate, would be able to make better
choice from the applicants the voter who
never heard OF any of thcm7 The governor at least
would have an opportunity OF Investigating and he
would be forced TO because would be
held responsible to the people for any mistake he
might make
Norfolk News: There were 1s7S aspirants for
office on the primary ballot in Illinois Evidently
Nebraska is not the only state in which the short
ballot reform is badly needed
Tekamah Journal The fellows who are advoeat-
ing short ballot. 1t would SEEM are not allied with
any particular wing Of reform II is really delightful
70 see friend Van Deusen of Blair agreeing
fully with The Omaha Bee editor IL there was any
one thing that demonstrated in the recent pri-
mary 1t was the fact that present outlined it does
not bring forth the results desired Men are not
mated by majority vote Of any party and II is quite
possible for list of candidates TO be large that
small cent shall decide the nomination and the
party who wins may be wholly undesirable candi-
date
Fairbury News and Gazette There are several
that the ballot could be shortened without doing
violence to popular government and those should
meet with a general endorsement. For instance the
suggestion to do away with the offices OF justices OF
the peace and constables in each precinct They are
about as useless adjunots be imagined
Friend Sentinel Under the present primary sys-
tenn any man with the price get his name the
ballot and how the people to become informed
TO his qualifications? Surely not through the
papers for the man who has the price get before
the people through political advertisement" II
governor. lieutenant governor and attorney general
only to be elected. the people look them up
safely entrusted with the appointment of the othet
state officers. Let have the short ballot by all
Lincoln Star: II it is privilege to vote for
public officer, it Is privilege to vote for another
II It s too burdensome and troublesome for citizen
to vote for secretary of state is too troublesome
for him to vote for II voting is burden
the citizen that is unjustified why not relieve
him by taking away the privilege entirely? There
would be burden in getting plenty Of public SER
wants II not a man woman had vote, and If one
take into account only the convenience of the
voter we might we'll the process whereby
governed by divine right. Then would
have to make seventy marks on his ballot, because he
would have ballot. Next TO having ballot Is
having only very short II the former Involves
denial Of Just privilege. then the latter in
wolves a partial denial of the privilege. 1t is
not the voter who marks his ballot who complains
about burden II imposes 1t is the politician, the
political theorist and the political reformer Why
wait until the voter kicks on his job7