The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-01
OUR INTRICATE ELECTIONS.
Public Welfare Requires a Simpler
Record Of the Public VIII.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Str: The
papers which publish the session laws
spent n week on the forty odd sections
amending the 440 odd OF the election
law. This extraordinary law was car
ried and enacted under pressure yet. as
politicians know, without any sentiment
for nor the least understanding or pri-
mary reform in itself and It's results.
1t foreclosed argument and delibera-
ton with headliners; and in politics, as
1t were, substitutes at the go-in rep
ortorial Impressions, as now in the
newspapers. for the mature conclusions
of statesmen and most like. to avoid a
frame, sets up n cooked hat.
The last two years II has given citi-
zens a. course in reading. writing and
arithmetic that would paralyze any but
a primary reformer," and they GER
tainly are few.
Certain. too. that 1t was disgust with
the extravaganza. complication and con-
fusion under this law that caused the
lump from the regular Democratic
ticket, the existing Administration. last
fall, especially noticeable In this cross
section of the State, settled In Revolu-
tionary times, and where. II anywhere.
you will find the American people. They
do not take naturally to shootln' In the
air.
All tns TeUltulHi lesLSlhNlOH INV
changed attitude on elections has had
one effect to lessen interest therein.
The old time direct payment OF money,
the wigwams, the professions and hre-
works and transforming were Intended
TO and did awaken the interest in
voting.
Even then you could carry the old
time caucus against the machine. or
both of them. If you could get the peo-
pie with you and go.
All that Is needed to-day Is some u
simple election law in few paragraphs,
establishing the distance mark, prohibi-
ton OF Interference and debauchery. a
simple registration and the secret booth.
That is all there need be and the rest
rests with the voters.
Another thing this law intrenches as
never before 'the boss system and II
was feeling against this n this alone
hat gave II support. 1t was "a good
enough Morgan" till after election.
1t legallzed government by committee,
which is what the boss system Is. the
reputed boss being agent or leading
actor. and hat was Just what was sought
to be lone away with.
And that system. as said. IL due to the
indifference of the voters, n more "Ae
solid business men, who prefer this
method. prefer dealing with n boss be.
I lore ana dIleT WltU tley may utSlIt
favor. or more generally safeguard. &c
be let alone. than enllsting in campaign,
for At men.
The Indifference, and chiefly tKe fac,
that any one going up against the ma.
chine finds these more than not helpful
makes the primary "A continually cut and
dried AFFAIR.
As for a Statewide primary. It 1;
sure the voter OF Otsego county has ne
asa.A, H. C.,, n.-., - &c.,.
town. C~hautauqua, though he might, al
least by hearsay. in James Fenimore oil
Cooperstown and would of my Jone:
In his own township. That is progress
sive legislation 10 tax interest in tn,
franchise.
on top of this We also have mooted e
leCal!ze government by committee in tn,
form OF Commission government foI
counties and cities and by proposed
"short ballot" stu further to lessen in
~terest, in that geography is basic q
all we have and are. without II We woulC
not know where we are at. and II woClC
eliminate all points but one. II para
J lyzes neighborhood interest.
We bid fair then TO atrophy the peo
pies interest in their franchise. and II
toto herewith l~egalize government b,
committee. both OF which are too mucl
current already. and seem 10 be adoptinj
hOilETplhAHN NlNlN'ut inc virtue ol IN
infinitesimal dose.
would respectfully submit 10 tn
conservative minds hat fortunately dom
mate the constitutional convention thi
thought and that what we should do l.
! 10 get back to simplifcat!on and 10
2 calization in all affairs rather than tn
reverse now gone too far. 1t Is alb
sentee control. in politics as we'll n
money. that Is working harm. and tn
: f1r1 nCierg hnya rn,uh, an orI orn $50.
7 ting anew the old face on II and whole
some regeneration OF the franchise o.
p such lines. and interest OF the peopl
] therein, and through that of our repre-
sentative democracy. rather than som
, "new thing" In place thereof. are wha
t Is needed. Ohm KING.
RrrrERNrrs, otsego County. May 90.