New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-27
Befuddling the Short Ballot Issue.
INVADERS.

For the benefit of those delegates in the
Constitutional Convention and politicians
outside who are so industriously befud-
ding the short ballot issue, The Tribune
prints the following letter.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: AS lifelong Republican Of the stall
wart brand, | don't know what to do with
these Republican obstructionists who JOIN
with Tammany delegates in the Constitu-
tional Convention to defeat the very desira-
BILE short ballot principle At least one of
them is a Tammany trader of many years
standing, and he and his political pirate
friends are giving the Progressive party a
very good reason for staying in the field and
running candidates, especially in the state
election of 1916.
Mr. Roots speech ought to convince every
fair-minded Republican that the short bal
lot is very desirable. While on the Pacific
Coast two weeks ago. | read an editorial in
"'The Portland Oregonian," which is, ! think,
the oldest Republican paper IN Oregon, con-
corning Mr.. Roots speech against invisible
government and for the short ballot.
Many regular Republicans look up to ex-
Senator Root as our leader and are glad to
receive suggestions from such distin-
guished and successful statesman and law
yer When young men who have voted the
Progressive ticket are inclined to Join the
Republican party, it is most important to
show our superiority over the Democratic
party and set an example to these wavering
young men.
The delegates from the Assembly district
in which | live will support the short ballot,
but | appeal TO the Republican constituents
of those Republican fossils in the convention
who are disgracing their party and repu-
dating their platform by opposing the short
ballot and making it plain to every one that
they wish to restore disgraceful invisible
government. ALFRED X. CONkLlNG.
New York, Aug. 20, 1915
There is no question to be settled by the
constitution makers on which the public IS
clearer in mind or more determined than
this. A thoroughgoing reduction of the
number of elective state officers is essen
tial, not only to permit concentration of
attention on candidates for Governor and
to take "the tail of the ticket" out of the
hands of the politician patronage brokers,
but to facilitate the workings of the direct
primary, which can only show the best
results in connection with the short ballot
election. If the Republicans, who control
this convention, fail to live up to the party
pledge, they will invite the retribution of
political treachery. The Democrats, who
also promised a shortening of the ballot,
will not be able to escape the penalty of a
violation of that promise on any plea that
they formed the convention minority.
The latest compromise" scheme put
forth by Mr.. Tanners committee is ridicu-
lous. 1t is a craven surrender to Controller
Travis and his allies who are fighting the
short ballot. If the Controller is to be
an administrative officer, he shouldn't be
elected. If he is not TO be the Independent
auditor which the original plan made him,
but merely a patronage dispenser, all ex-
cuse for keeping his name on the ballot
vanishes.
The short ballot which would command