Multi-Democratic

Democracy--government by the people--nowhere exists. The nearest approach to it is in Switzerland, where referenda can be taken on the initiative of the people; but, even in other so-called democracies, representative government, with all its flaws, is the most perfectly practical form of government known; and its success is undoubtedly determined in ratio to the political consciousness of the people. When, however, representative government is introduced into backward countries whose populace is for the most part ignorant and whose leaders are often corrupt, it becomes nothing short of a farce. At Bagdad, capital of Iraq, officials decided to postpone a general election for the first national parliament. The circumstances were unique; The population of the country--man, woman and child--is not more than 3,000,000; of these, only male subjects 20 years of age may vote. When the register of the electorates was completed, it was found that no fewer than 10,000,000 persons had registered as voters.