Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-05
MEND 1T OR N IT.

Most people forgot that there was a city cleo
ton yesterday. This was quite natural, because
there was no contest for any one Of the positions to
be filled, and it was taken for granted that each of
the persons nominated would be elected, a result
which must have been regarded as fairly %satisfac-
tory, otherwise other nominations would have been
made, and there would have been some real con-
tests.
An election which is generally forgotten is open
to the objection that candidates, possibly unknown
and unfit, may be slipped furtively into public posi-
tons while the public is not looking. This has been
done on many occasions. Under conditions exactly
similar to those which prevailed in this election, a
little quiet concerted action on the part of a mere
handful of people has elected men who could not
under any circumstances have been elected if it had
been known that they We're candidates., or that they
were being considered. Few persons who are fit
to hold an office are willing to accept one ON such
terms, but i'll some cases excellent men who have
been surreptitiously elected without their know1-
edge have been constrained to serge because their
refusal would have involved the community in a
special election, the position in such case not going
to the person next on the list.
We should mend our elections in this particular
or end some of them. There might be some logic
III requiring every voter to appear at the polls on
election day unless debarred by some sufficient rea-
son. Compulsory voting has, often been suggested.
The plan has never come into general favor, but
there is at least something to be said in favor of
canceling the franchise of the individual who does
not choose to exercise it when he may.
A simpler plan, and one which would be entire
ly equitable to all parties, would be to cancel the
election itself when there are no opposing candi-
dates. In the recent case, the time for filing nornin-
atoms expired on a certain day. All who desired
to become candidates had opportunity to fh petit
tons. The tirt'e having expired, it would have been
a simple matter for the city auditor or other official
to announce that there being only one candidate for
eachposition to be filled, such candidates were auto
matically elected, and no election would be held. If
there were opposing candidates for one or more po-
sitions the election could be held, with the voting
on those candidates only. That would eliminate en-
tirely the surreptitious vote, and would place every
thing in the open.
The same considerations apply to the coming
school election. IN the four wards in which yacan-
cies are to be filled there is but one nomination for
each place. There has been full opportunity to nom
mate other candidates, and this has not been done.
Why'not issue certificates of election to the only
candidates in the field and eliminate the election
If this course were followed there would be a
saving of expense which would amount to some
thing, although this would not be highly import
ant. The important thing would be the security
given that the community would not be tr;cked, and
that nobody could be elected to an office without
having his candidacy publicly known. Legislation
would be necessary, of course, to bring about this
lchange. but a statutory enactment is probably all
that would be needed.
But will Mrs. (.au1f's Dlatfofms s1nnort hrr Il