The Columbia Herald

IS IT A SUCCESS?

Direct government, the referendum, may have proven a success in some states, but the experience of Tennessee cities certainly does not indicate any overweening desire upon the part of the mass of voters for a greater share in government. It has long been the custom in the cities and towns of this state to vote upon questions of issuing bonds. But in no case has the vote in such elections approached in size the vote cast where the political fortunes of individuals were at issue.

Take Nashville for example. It is of record that in 1905 that city actually voted $500,000 of bonds in an election where less than 500 of the 10,000 qualified took the trouble to go to the polls and vote. A few days ago there was another election involving the issuance of two and a half million dollars or a debt of nearly twenty-five dollars for every man, woman and child in the city. Less than 3,000 voted. In the last city election when a mayor was chosen more than 14,000 voted. There never was a constable's election held in that city since the war when a larger vote was not cast than was polled upon an issue of two and a half million dollar debt. The inference is plain, the people are not bothering themselves about governmental affairs. They will take the trouble to elect officers but are content to leave the details of administration with the officers. The referendum is a fine theory: it does not work much in practical operation.