The Bottineau courant., 1916-11-23
TOO MANY ELECTIONS.

Dakota in common with many other states,
could get along with fewer elections. A change
to four year terms would certainly be welcome ed
by the candidates themselves and there is no
reason why the average voter and taxpayer
would not be benefited as we'll.
The following editorial from the Minot
Optic Reporter the subject is a very able
presentation of the situaton
This is opportune time to call attention
to the fact that this state has entirely too many
elections. Within the last eight months the
people Of the state have gone through three
state wide elections and have had nothing but
politics for breakfast, luncheon and dinner
The Presidential electors and Presidential
preference election in March was the first. The
next the primaries in June and the last was
the national and state election of Nov. 7.
'phe trouble is that the terms of the officials
two instead of four years. There is an un-
written law that the man elected Governor shall
have a second term because he is unable to put
into operation the theories he may hold on
state administration matters i'll term of two
years. Why not, then, give him term of
four years, and in the of the Governor
any other official who would be able by virtue
of his appointing power to build up personal
political machine, make such officials ineligible
term that it is too long for an incompetent or
dishonest to hold office. That argument
is we'll taken. But believe the American
electorate is sufficiently intelligent to deter
mine fairly we'll the qualifications in advance of
the who aspire to office, and that the judg
tnent of the voters is sufficiently sound to avoid
any real dangers in the election of state officials
Certainly, if we must use four year judg
ment in making a choice for President
not 90 much wrong in similar chance a
for state position.
The arguments in favor of a fouryear term
for state officials apply with equal force to
county positions. If these two classes Of officers
were elected every four 'years it would relieve
the state of both the primary and general cleo
tion in the presidential year. This would leave
the intermediate election for nothing but
bers of the Congress, and if they were elected
at time when there would be little to divert
public attention from their campaigns, the pub
lie could require better accounting of their
stewardship than it when their con-
tests are submerged in the chaos of general
election in which everything from President to
county constable must be selected. The four
year plan would reduce the total of public
excitement and relieve the people of lot of
energy. diverting liability
lne expenses OF eleCClOnS are becoming d
heavy burden the taxpayers. We believe
in the greatest possible opportunity for the ex-
preston of public will We believe it is not
only the privilege but the duty of citizens to
participate in the selection of those who to
make and administer and adjudicate the laws
But the judgment of the voters should be for
longer period of time the cost of such choice
would be reduced to the lowest point consistent
with proper results.
The man elected TO either state county
office for four years would know that he would
not have to begin another campaign for re-eec-
ton within a year after taking office he
does now, and would devote his energies to the
proper administration of his office. He would
thus be able to give the public better service
during the four years of office, three at least of
which would not be interrupted by contests for
denomination in the primaries and reelection
in the general election.
The change from two to four year terms
for the state and county officers in North Dakota
can only be brought about by change in the
constitution of the state. These suggestions
are more for the purpose of creating interest in,
and starting discussion of, the matter than
for forming public sentiment on either side of
it."
SOME NEEDED ELECTION REFORMS.
IOr,~< Nnr lxCfo is 80,