Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-01-21

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the voting population of each town
is considerably lass than two hum
bred, and the changes 10 the registry
list from year to year so insignificant
ily small in comparison with the
whole number OF legal voters, as to
obVlate every necessity tor those
slow and tortuous approaches TO the
ballot box, sometimes deemed expe-
dent In less conservative communl.
ties. The qualifications of electors
are clearly and wisely pr escribed by
our state constitution. The imprac-
ticable character of some of the
proV!9icas Of the existing registry
law are the natural and manifest
consequences Of an effort to attach
to those qualifications superabun-
dant conditions, not contemp plated
by that instrument, and in clear vio-
lation of it's spirit. Under the law
az il, no one is denied the right Of
suffrage who accompanies his ballot
with the appropriate proof Of quali~
ii alton, and under the law as il is
large numbers fail to comply with
the requirement of previous registry.
| advise the abrogation of no reas.
enable and efficient safeguard. Most
heartily | commend every effort to
prevent all corruption and pu nish all
crime intended to subvert the honest
will OF the people. But provisions
Of law which are in their nature
offensive, expensive, practically inef-
fcient, or actually void, furnish no
protection and deserve no defence.
Accordingly | recommend q repeaI
of such parts of the present Inv as
require preliminary registration Of
electors, and the enactment of any
compromising provisions that may
be deemed requisite to secure an
honest expression of the will Of
electors, and faithful and lntolli-
gent discharge of the duties of in
spectOrs at elections.
TINE OF CLOSING POLLS
| also renew in this place the
recommendation of my previous
message, for more liberal legislation
n behalf Of working men, by an
extension Of the time now provided
by law for closing the polls in the
larger cities. Experience has clear
~ established the fact that large
fraction Of our laboring population
are now practically denied the priVi-
lego OF the elective franchise, under
laws that do not permit the exercise
of that privilege without pecuniary
sacrifice. 1t is too often the fact,
moreover, that laboring men com
peiled to cast their votes during
honrs OF the day belonging to their
employers, are subjected 20 an an
aoying espionage, or an offensive
oiotation, wholly Inconsistent with
that freedom of individual action
and opinion upon which the sacred
character of the ballot depends.
Such reform would tend to pre-
serve rather than endanger the pur-
lty Of the ballot box, fer the obvious
reason that the additional time al
Owed inspectors for receiving votes,
in crowded precincts, would furnish
the most efficient security possible
against corrupt voting. Another and
sui more wholesome result might be
anticipated from this change, in the
fact that it would wholly remove, on
the part Of candidates for office, all
apology Cor corruptly offering money
as a pretended compensation to
voters tor valuable time lost in going
to and from the polls. Our system
of government contemplstes and re-
quires full, free and inexpensive
exercise of the right of suffrage by
all qualified electors, of whatever
class, and every act Of legisaf ion to
that end is sanctioned by every prin-
cipIe of justice, and must necessarily
prove wholesome in it's influence.
CORRUPT USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS. |
! feel confident that yoa will con-
cur with me in deprecaung the in
creasing evils attendant upon our
elections, especially manifest in eff
forts to influence results by corrupt
use of money. That elector who
measures the value Of his vote or his
political influence by dollars and
cents is unworthy the respect of
honest men, or the privileges of q
citizen. No legislation ID too strin.
gent, and no penalty too severe for
the prevention and punishment OF
practices of this class; and | re-
specially submit to you the proprie-
~ Of such additional legislation as
shall more effectuaIly enforce the
spirit and purpose of existing stat
uteg. The payment of money or
property at the polls or elsewh here in
consideration of political services or
influence and for the purpose of IN
duly affecting the results of a nomi,
cation or election, is an offense
against society, and should unhesi-
tatingIy condemned by law.
CANvAssING VOTES.
be question is worthy of your
consideration, whether more intelli-
gent provisions of law should not be
enacted for the security of the peo-
ple against any fraudulent canvass
Of votes The restrictions now i'm
posed upon canvassing boards, By
co-ining them rigidly 10 the dis
charge of simple ministerial duty,
cannot be too strongly commended.
Most assuredly no Judicial discrimi-
nation should be permitted on Uhe
part of political officers, far removed
from the source of information, and
likely to be consciously or uncon.
soiously governed by PARTISAN inter-
est. But the power of revision and
judicial determination should some
where exist, to the end simply that
the ponular will may never be de-
feated through the error, incompe-
tence or criminal purpose of any
subordinate officer Of the law. l
Furthermore recommend such an
amendment of existing statutes on
this subject as will remove from any
y so n