Ogden Evening Standard | 1912-01-16 | Page 3 | Chicago's Long Ballot

CHICAGO'S LONG BALLOT It is a severe ordeal that will confront con-front the voters at the direct primary next April, which is preliminary to tho November election. Not less than fifU -three party candidates for office of-fice aro to be nominated with the aid of the voters In each precinct In Chicago It Is estimated that the names of as many as 350 aspirants will appear on the primary ballots Tho possibility of each voter's properly sifting and weighting thn qualifications of such an army of candidates is immediatelj apparent This is one of the complications of the elective Bystem improperly employed em-ployed that promote bad government. Obviously the curatlvo properties of the short hallot should be applied In the most prompt and direct manner possible Many of the offices for which candidates are to bo nominated noxt April should bo in the appointive appoint-ive liBt Tho Chief Justice and tho nine associate Justices of the 'Municipal 'Muni-cipal court, who under existing law will bo elected next Noembor from among candidates nominated in April, ought to be nominated by petition and elected at tho muiclpal election noxt spring. There is "brought forcibly to mind the recent injurious political activities of "Tom" Hunter, chief bailiff bail-iff of the Municipal court, whose office of-fice Is to be filled at the general election elec-tion in November. This office and the chief clerkship aB well as various other local offices, and even some of the state officos, Bhould be filled by appointment. In some instances constitutional amendments would be necessarv to permit the unwieldy ballot to be properly prop-erly shorthand, but the voted is entitled en-titled to all relief that can bo afforded afford-ed him with benefit to the cause of good government. Chicago News. nn