Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-09
Perhaps the Short Ballot
Win Not Do 1t Either, But
1t Is More Likely to Show
us the Way Out. .
(By H. j. Hagerman, in Roswell
News.)

Mr.. Will Robinson.
Editor Roswell Evening News,
Roswell. New/Mexico.
Dear Mr.. Robinson: Responding
to your inquiry as to the short
ballot proposal of the special COM
mittee of the Taxpayers associa-
ton of New Mexico contained q
report of that committee already
published by you, my impression
like yours, is that the idea is very
generally acceptable TO the think
people of the state. The personnel
of the committee, consisting, as it
does, of three lifelong republicans
and two prominent democrats
clearly demonstrates, through the
directness and unanimity of the
report that political consideration
cannot, in any way, have influ-
enced the position taken by the
committee. There is as much need
now as there ever was for politi-
cal parties, our form of govern
ment demands them, but the time
has come in our history when GER
tain fundamental abuses and errors
in the administration of our gov
ernmental system must be faced
and adjusted quite irrespective of
party, of faction or of political eX-
pediency That this is true is now
fully apprehended by some of our
biggest public men who see
through conditions into causes and
are calmly proclaiming the truth.
One such man is Senator Thomas,
of Colorado-a democrat-but so
clear and sympathetic a seer into
the heart of things, that his ut
teraaces are like cold spring water
to q thirsty traveller in the desert.
He says boldly and without pas
sion or exaggeration that the trou-
BILE with us is too much politics
and not enough business in our
goyernment-tha neither party is
wholly honest in it's moves for re-
form but that practically all our
public men in Washington and
elsewhere compromise and play to
expediency when put to the test.
That is the gist of what he says.
That is the gist of the truth.
Thomas Is Independent.
| was recently talking with two
i of Senator Thomas senatorial
colleagues, both of his own party,
and they said: Eyes, Thomas is
INDUCING in the luxury of being
independent. This is his last term.
He doesn't care" That was really
as much as to say that no man
who looks forward to future po-
litical office can be independent.
But from what hear in Colorado
IL ,,,,1ilyn1xr that SnnltOr
Thomas may be renominated ana
returned to the senate, even If that
state goes republican which l GER
tainlv hope it will Another quite
independent statesman who knows
the truth and who is free is Sena-
tor Nelson, of Minnesota, good
republican and party man. Al
his last reelection he didn't even
go home to Minnesota or pay his
primary filing fee but received the
nomination and the, election. What
the people are beginning to look
for in their public servants is clear
seeing, dignified, unabashed indie
pendence and courage-not I'M
patience and intolerance of either
the radical, the Rodey or the re-
dictionary type, but just plain horse
sense-com bined with touch Oh
spirituality-and everyday, open,
frank, uncamouflaged, straight
forward honesty. When they find
it in man in office they are much
more likely than they were a few
wears ago to stick to that man,
whatever be his party
OF course there are still lot OF
men in your party and a lot OF
men in my party whose only idea
of political worth is political label
but we have reached point where,
in spite of the many benefits OF
government, its eXtravagances ana
abuses are SO pronounced that u
won't be long before each of us
will have to be shown, before we
vote for man, what are his inten-
tions about this very thing, If gov
eminent goes on the way 1t is go
ing now and has been going in
steadily increasing degree for
long time-constantly increasing
an unequitably distributed tribute
of taxation-something is going TO
break, We will all go broke indi-
vidually first, then the system VIII
break and then the reaction will be
worse than the conditions leading
up to the break.
Fayors Short Ballot.
Now there is no panacea Tor
these threatened and present ills,
no unbending formula for saliva
ton. political or otherwise. i am
not one of those who believe that
any particular scheme of govern
mental reform can be conceived
sufficiently effective to cure by
itself troubles which have Heen
very long in growing up. Certainly
do not believe that direct pri-
maries will cure our present diff
ficulties. Perhaps the short ballot
will not do it either but | believe
that it is more likely to do so and
to show us the way out of many
of our present difficulties than any
other measure yet proposed.
Why?
This is the main reason why. Be-
cause no man, however good a man
he may be, can be expected to
manage q big business successfully
unless he has means and power to
enforce authority. No executive Of
ficer can actually act as an execu-
tive officer if he hasn't the where
with to execute, to carry out. to
properly administer the job ne
is selected to manage.> There Is
nothing or, rather, there should be
little or nothing about managing
the affairs of state, a city, coun-
ty or any other government unit
vitality different as to essentials
from the MANAGEMENT of any large
unit of endeavor. Theoretically
is a convenience, vol |
untary substitute through united
action for doing through a central
by delegated powers,
things that the people might dof
for themselves but believe can be
done better otherwise Now all
these things taken together in this
state amount to a comparatively |
small business; that is to say, to AL
business small in comparison to