The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-05

year in Kansas; that there was no con-
test for the head of the Republican
ticket; that the contests, either state
or local, were not numerous on the
Democratic ticket, and that good
many voters therefore thought it
wasn't worth while to spare even lit
tie of their time to public matters,
vital though they be.
Maybe so. But rather doesn't this
apathy before and at the primary in
dictate that the people are tired and
sick of politics and of being bounded
continually by candidates for office?
The political pot is always boiling in
Kansas, and this is especially true in
| the large and little cities of the state
and of which there are legion.
| The smoke of the approaching gen.
eral election will hardly have cleared
away before the candidates for city
commissionerships in Topeka will be
beginning their campaigns for the mu-
nicipal primary and election that come
early next spring.
And so it goes on. like the babbling
brook that goes on forever.
Local campaigns follow quickly on
the heels of state and county cam
paigns in most distracting manner.
The people are getting sick of be-
ing politicked to the bone, and no one
can blams them for the political
apathy they have begun to show.
| To remedy this evil of too much poll
itics that is so inimicai to the public
welfare in putting a quietus on the
interest of the people in their public
affairs would seem to be a simple
problem.
1t could be done by 1engthening the
terms of county and state offices to
four years, ard providing the people
with a whip-hand over their servants
in office by putting the recall at the
voters disposal.
Lengthen, also, the terms of city Of
fIces to four years, with similar re-
call adjunct, which happens to be a
part of the commission form of gov
| eminent under present conditions.
Where efficiency and satisfaction is
shown, it is an almost invariable rule
il. Kansas, almost an unwritten law, in
fact, to give both county and state Of
ficials at least two consecutive terms,
and there is also a pretty general feel
ing throughout the state that two
terms are enough at a time for any
man, except, possibly and rightly
where superior judgeships are con-
cerned. In the realm of the Judiciary
it is desirable to have a reasonable
permanency in office whenever a COM
munity is successful in placing lesir-
able timber on its benches, and which
has been the case, fortunately, in
Shawnee county for some time past.
Divorce, if it be deemed as wise as
l. seems to be, the city primary and
election from the county and state
primary and election, by having them
come on alternate two years.
This would bring a primary election
and campaign around once every two
years and that would be often enough
to suit the most fastidious political
fan, candidates included
Another reform that might well go
hand in glove with this one would be
the necessary mandates of law TO pro-
hlbit successful candidates for office,
with the exception of those who are
of the supreme and district courts.
from running for denomination and
reelection without at least a term in
tervening after his first four years
tenure of office.
Last but by no means least was the
usual delay in the count of the votes
cast at the primary election of the
other day, and the determining of the
winners where the contests were close
This was not only most aggravating
to the candidates and the many people
who were interested in the outcome OF
the primary. 1t was also a hardship
that the election officials should not
he compelled to suffer
If double election boards to expe-
dite these matters are deemed neces-
s;sry for the general elections, and
which have already been provided for
{ fr this state for such elections, why
= are they not necessary, why not have
them for the primaries?
) Better still let the big cities in the
l state and even the smaller ones awake
to their opportunities in these prem
ises and equip their polling places with
voting machines.
? Wherever cities have tried these
2 machines. with the possible exception
of Chicago, where there was something
5 wrong with the type of machine tried
they have given the utmost satisfac.
tion, and the people who use voting
e machines would not return to the ole
system of penci1ing their ballots fol-
love or money.