Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-24

lost, and the exercise of the right of suf-
rage will be neglected. To corrupt the
ballot box is to destroy our free institu-
tions. Let, all good citizens, therefore.
unite IN enacting and enforcing laws which
will secure honest elections.
Isubmit to your judgment the propriety
OF such amendments to the election laws as
VIII provide, first, for the representation OF
minorities in the boards of the judges and
clerks of the elections; and second, for the
registration of all the lawful voters in each
township, ward and election precinct, prior
to the election.
That the boards of elections ought to be
so constituted that minorities as well as
lnajorities will have a fair representation
In them, is so plainly just that in som
parts of the State, even in times of tn
highest political excite ment, such repre-
sentation has been obtained, in the absence
OF law, by arrangement between the com.
mittees ofthe rival political parties. 1t is moi
probable that any mode of selecting Judge
and clerks OF elections can be adOptet
which will, In every case. accomplish this
object. But in all cases where the strength
of the minority is half. or nearly halt as
great as that of the msj sjority, the desired
representation of the minority may be EN-
sured with sufficient certainty by several
different plans. For example, it may be
provided that at the election of the three
judges who are to decide all questions at
the polls, each elector may be allowed to
vote for two candidates only, and that the
three candidates having the highest num-
Der OF votes shall be declared elected, and
in like manner that at the election OF the
two clerks OF elections each elector may
vote for one candidate only, and that the
two candidates receiving the highest num-
Der of votes shall be declared elected. IA
do not lay much stress on the particu-
lar plan here suggested, but your atten-
ton is invited to the Importance of fair
representation of the minority in all boards
OF elections, not doubling that your wis
dom will be able to devise suitable meas
ure to accomplish it.
All parts of the State of Ohio are nov
so closely connected with each other, an.
with other States, by lines of railway, tina
great and constantly Increasing facilitie
are afforded for the preparation of th'
class of frauds, on the elective franchise.
commonly known as ''colonizing." In tht
cities, men called "repeaters," !" it is said,ar,
paid wages according to the number OF
unlawful votes they succeed in casting al
the same election. The increase of popu-
lation adds to the difficulty of detecting
and preventing fraudulent voting, in what
ever mode it may be practiced. 1t is man.
ifestly impossible, amid the hurry and ex-
citement ofan election, that the legal right
TO vote, OF every person who may offer his
ballot, should be fully and fairly
investigated and decided. The ex-
perience of many of the older States
has proved that this can best be
done at some period prior to the election,
so as to give to every legal voter, in an
election precinct, an opportunity to chal-
lenge the claim of any person whose right
is deemed questionable. Laws to accom-
plish this have been in force in several
other States for many years, and have been
carried out successfully and with the gen.
that an act providing for the registration
of all legar voters is the most effective
remedy yet devised for the prevention OF
frauds on the sacred right Of suffrage, and
that q registry law can be so framed that it
will deprive no citizen, either native born
or naturalized, of his just rights, 1 res
pectfully recommend to your earnest con-
sideration the propriety of enacting such a
law. r. B. HAYES.