Further, the right to choose his own subordinates makes the work of the chief much easier, brings a unity of purpose into an administration which is likely to be absent when a number of different men, simultaneously elected, perhaps representing different parties, have to work together.  The increased power and responsibility of the chief offices attract able men, men of ideals and training, who do not care for an office whose power is limited by that of various machine politicians who, they know, will hamper them on every side in their efforts for efficient administration.  And, apart from this consideration, a man able enough to win election as governor is a far better judge of the men best fitted for the various technical duties that fall to his subordinates than is the general public.  Experience shows that the men chosen by chiefs who are elected and held responsible to the people are generally abler than those elected to the same positions by popular vote.

The present movement toward a short ballot, with responsibility clearly denned and concentrated, will doubtless do away ultimately with the clumsy systems by which both States and cities in this country are now governed-the two-chambered legislatures, with their inevitable friction betwixt themselves and with the executive.  This method of checks and counter-checks was thought necessary as a safeguard against tyranny, the bugbear of our forefathers, but is now the enemy of efficiency and the haunt of corruption.  The much simpler commission form of government, which, originating in Galveston and Des Moines a few years ago, has already, at date of writing, been adopted by over three hundred cities, substitutes for the usual executive and legislative branches a small group of elected officials — commonly five-who, with the aid of appointed subordinates, carry on the whole business of the city.  Some such plan may eventually be adopted for states, and even for the national government. [Footnote:  R. S. Childs, Short Ballot Principles, Story of the Short Ballot Cities.  C. A. Beard, Loose Leaf Digest of Short Ballot Charters.  Free literature of the National Short Ballot Organization (383 Fourth Avenue, New York City).  C. R. Woodruff, City Government by Commission.  E. S. Bradford, Com- mission Government in American Cities.  National Municipal Review, vol. 1, pp. 40, 170, 372, 562; vol. 2, p. 661.  The American City, vol. 9, p. 236.  Outlook, vol. 92, pp. 635, 829; vol. 99, p. 362.  Forum, vol. 51, p. 354.]

(3) Direct primaries.  Experience has conclusively shown that the caucus system of making nominations for office plays directly into the hands of the machine; its practical result has been that the voter is usually restricted in his nominees of the bosses and the “interests.”  The direct primary gives the independent candidate his opportunity, and makes it more practicable for honest citizens to determine between what candidates the final choice shall lie.  It implies effort