South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-06
FEBRUARY 6. 1921.
THE SHORT BALLOT AND THE TOO
COMMONPLACE ABUSE OF POWER.

7HETHER the people should elect the state
w perintendent of public instruction, he
should ar appointee of the governor supposedly
On the basis of ability as an educator, has been
decided by the Indiana state assembly in favor OF
the people. II is a question which there are two
sides. II the governor would always use the power
vested him. appoint the state superintendent
for his educational ability-and nothing else.-the
idea would be a good one, but if he to abuse
IT. as governors sometimes do abuse power, then
the answer might be different.
1t was one Of ex-Gov. Goodrich's pet measures
wanted not only the superintendent of public
instruction appointive instead OF elective, but he
would have applied the principle every
thing on the state ticket below governor. lieutenant
governor secretary of and state treasurer The
proposed constitutional amendment upon which the
issue raised took in only the head Of the state
educational system. apparently as a fseler. ~
a start toward what has been termed the "short
ballot" Theoretically il listens well.
However. politics appear 10 be politics, and only
a few men attain political office who are able to
escape the conviction that they owe something if
practically all. the political party that rut
them in office. As Gov Goodrich once said, he
would never appoint a office who in his
Judgment was unht for it, this regardless Of his
politics but he expected 10 dhd Office that
ne could not ind a republican better qualified To-
democratic governor would probably take the
same view looking with disfavor on the possible
qualifications republican
Then do know but that after all You
might well leave the election to The people. If it
is to be party appointment anyhow what par
ticular difference does it make? The governor GER
saiuIy. viii not at least publicly. make the claim
that ne is wiser than the people who elected him.
no DO so would be 70 discredit their judgment in
making him their choice And if they were wise
enough TO pick wise a he, isn't possible
for them 60 show like wisdom in the choice of
other offcials? Call it sophistry if you like Il al
comes back to where started. Governors can no
more be trusted make a political appointment
TO Office on the basis of ability that the people
can.
Gov. Goodrich proved times during his
incumbency. So did Gov. Raston. We wouldn't be
surprised if would develop before long Gov.
McCray's appointive judgment has been bad in
spots short ballot" idea is beautiful The peo-
pie do have to the direct mistake Of elect
ing many wrong men. and it is claimed can give
little more attention 70 the heads of the ticket
just though the bulk Of people care what man
ner Of man heads the ticket so long as it is their
ticket
Really know Of no who has more right
to make mistakes in the hing of public once than
the people themselves have And experience has no,
always proven if wise 10 relieve them of any of the
responsibility Especially in educational matters
il might be wiser TO subject the schools of the
state 10 the within of gubernatorial appointment.
we'll wiser than IL would be TO place them all
under the dictation OF a federal commissioner of
education. Just now the pendulum is beginning 20
swing away agan-from 10 much centralized gov
eminent The people getting suspicious. They
have seen delegated lowers teO frequently abused.