Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-12-09

OoHSiucfdtioll vi plans loi liSNitue-
ing the short ballot in State and
County elections Monday was urged
by Philip B. Perlman, Secretary OF
State. Adoption of the Fewer Flee
tions Amendment, at the last election
makes such consideration necessary
Mr.. Perlman said in an analysis OF
the effect of the amendment.
Shortening of the ballot means that
some of the offices now filled by an
election participated in by the voters
of county or of Baltimore city, and
perhaps also some offices filled by the
voters of the whole State, must be
changed to appointive offices.
Statement of Points
"What Offices should be changed
from elective to appointve is u mat
ter, the determination of which in
wolves importanant and serious prob
lems," his analysis continues, "and
work upon such problems cannot, in
my Judgment, he begun too soon,
The questions should be considered
and settled by the General Assembly
which is to be elected in November of
next year and which will meet in
January, 1924"
Mr.. Perlman took the view that
merging all State and County cleo
tions will result in ballot of such
size that many ballots will be spoiled
and thousands of voters will not
bother TO vote for all offices to be
filled.
107 Spaces On Ballot
He calculated that upon ballot in
Baltimore city after 1926, there would
appear the names of 10 candidates,
and the number of spaces would be
107. These figures, he pointed out,
did not take into account nomination
by Socialist or Labor parties of can
didates for clerkships. House of Dele
gates and other Offices, nor nomina-
tions by petition, nor amendments.
"The Fewer Elections Amendment
provides that all State and County
officers shall be elected once every
four years for terms of -four years.
The only exception is in the case of
judges whose 15-year terms remain
unchanged. The first election of
State and County officers under this
plan will occur at the Congressional
election to be held in November, 1926.
ain order to bring this about, the
terms of the Governor and Attorney
General to be elected in 1923 have
been reduced from four years to three
for one term only, and corresponding
changes have been made in the terms
of county officers. The twO-year
officers have been given an extra year
for one term only.
Offices To BE Filled
"The result is that after the terms
begin TO run concurrently, there will
be elected at the State elections a
Governor, Attorney General, Comp
troler, Clerk of the Court of Appeals,
a Congressman in each Congressional
district, County Commissioners in
each county (some counties having
three Commissioners and others hav-
ing more than thrce), and in each
county and Baltimore city a States
Attorney, Sheriff, Register of Wills,
three Judges of the Orphans Court,
members of the House of Delegates
and State Senators.
''In each county, but not in Balti-
more city, there also will be elections
for Treasurer, County Surveyor and a
Clerk of Court. In Baltimore City
there will be elections for six Clerks
of Court. Elections for Judges of the
Supreme Bench of Baltimore city and
for the Circuit Judge in the counties
will be held at the same time, the
humber varying with circumstances
such as expiration OF terms. resigna-
tions, retirementS and deaths, Flee
tions for United States Senate also
will occur nj every two out of three
State elections.
Four Candidates Per Office
"There will be at least four candi-
dates for each of some of the Offices,
as nominations for Statewide offices
are made by Socialist and Labor par
ties, which also nominate candidates
for Congress, and sometimes for
Judge, clerks of court and other
offices. 1t also frequently happens
that candidates for some Of the offices
are nominated by petition.
"When it is remembered that the
lew requires the Supervisors to leave
blank space, on the ballot for each
Office to be filled. in order that voters
may have an opportunity to write in
the name Of any person they desire,
and that in some cases, for example,
members of the House Of Delegates,
there will be six blank spaces in one
:roup because six delegates are to be
Soted for, it will be understood that
the size Of the ballot will be abnormal.
Primaries Different
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