The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-12-21
PERLMAN URGES ACTION
TOWARDS SHORT BALLOT
Sees Need of Early Consideration
of Plans to Cut Elections

county elections urged by Philip B.
Perlman, Secretary of State. Adop-
ton of the Fewer Elections amend
ment at the last election makes such
consideration necessary, Mr.. Perl
man 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 a county or of Baltimore city, and
perhaps also some offices filled by the
voters of the whole State, must be
changed to appointive offices.
What offices should be changed
from elective to appointive is a mat
ter, the determination of which in
wolves important ans serious prob
lems," his analysis continues, "and
work upon such problems cannot, in
my Judgment, be begun too soon.
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.. PerIman took the view that
merging all State and county cleo
tons will result in a ballot Of such
size that many ballots will be spoiled
and thousands Of voters will not both
er to vote for all Offices to be filed.
He calculated that upon a ballot in
baltimore city after I9Z6, there would
appear the names OF ~ candidates
ana the number OF spaces would be
~. IheSe .hgureS, he pointed ou-,
dId not take INTO account nominations
49, IL -4 I u. 2
by Soclallst or LABOR parties OF candl-
dates Tor cleTkshlps' House OF Dee
gates ana otnef oIlceS, nor nomlna-
uonS by petition; nor amendments.
Inc FEWER EiGctlohs Amendment
provisions tnat all State ana county
CHlcers shali be elected, once every
TOUR years Tor terms OF -FOUR years;
me only exceptions IS in the case OF
judges whose I2-year terms remain
~ Inc afst election OF
SJate and county ofncers under this
pan VIII occur at the Congressional
election to be held IN November, 1926.
In order to bring this about, the
terms OF the Governor and Attorney
General TO be elected IN 1873 have
Deeh reduced from TOUR years IN
three Tor one term only, and cores
pohdihg changes nave been made IN
the term OF county officers, The
tWo-year officers have been given an
extra year Tor on eterm only.
me result IS that after the terms
oegn TO run concurrently, there will
pc elected at the State elections a
Governor; Attorney-General, Comp
troIler, Clerk OF the Court OF Appeals,
congressman IN each congressional
district, County Commissioners in
each county, (some counties having
InreG commissioners. and other coun-
ties having three') and IN each county
ana Baltimore city States Attorney,
Nherlii' Register OF NILS, three Jud-
ges OF the Orphans, Court, members
OF the House OF Delegates and State
senators,
In each county. but not in BaIti-
more city, there also VIII be elections
for Treasurer, County Surveyor and
a Ciefk OF the Court. In Baltimore
CIty there VIII be elections for six
Cderks OF Court Elections for Judges
OF the supreme Bench OF Baltimore
city ana Tor the Circuit Judges IN the
counties Will be held at the same
times, the number varying with cir
cumstances, such as expiration of
terms, reslgnatlons, retirements and
deaths. Elections for United States
Senator also will occur at every two
out OF three State elections.
There will be, at least four candi-
dates for each of some of the offices,
as nominations for Statewide offices
are made by Socialists 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. 1t IS remembered that the
law requires the Supervisors to leave
a blank space on the ballot for each
office to be filled, in order that the
voters may have an opportunity to
write IN the name Of any person they
desire and that in some cases, for eX-
ample, members of the House of Dele
gates, there Will be six blank spaces
IN one groun because six delegates
are to be voted for, it will be under
he aAN,-., 4