NATIONAL MUNICIPAL REVIEW [March cities were most scandalously betrayed, during the period when municipal offices were filled at the same elections in which state and national officers were elected. We know that the holding of municipal elections at a different time of the year from other elections, or in the off-years between other elections, has automatically acted to increase the consideration given to municipal Candidates and affairs, and to decrease the weight of national party

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... ns among the voters. We know, moreover, that the abolition of the party column ballot has the same effect. We know that the office group ballot, on which the voter is obliged t o vote specifically for a candidate for each public office, increases the amount of free and independent judgment exercised by the electorate.