Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-12

SEPT. II, 1877.
An Election MIDDLE.

The Legislature last winter. with a
view to securing greater purity in cleo
tions, enacted law upon the subject
which was prepared with great care
and embraced many wholesome provi-
sions. It's passage was demanded in
the interests of good government, to
the end that there may be a full and
fair expression of the public will
through the ballot box, and that frauds,
which were too liable to occur under the
old law, might be prevented in the fu-
ture. Among other things the law
spoken Of provides that sat their first
regular meeting in September of each
year." the mayor and common council
of every incorporated city in the state
shall designate three persons in each
ward to act as inspectors of elections,
and two persons to act as clerks, who
shall discharge certain duties prescribed
with reference to the registry of voters,
holding Of elections, &c &c. 1t also
provides that of the three inspe ctors so
to be named, ''not more than two shall
belong to the same political party;"
and that, among other requirements,
aithe clerks shall be able to read and
write the English language understand
ingly," and "shall be of opposing poll
teal parties" The prcpriety and
fairness of these provisions-the object
of which was to secure impartiality in
the conduct Of elections, and intelli-
gence on the part of those officiating as
inspectors and cerks-are sc obvious
that they should command the assent
of all We regret, however, that they
do not seem to have been favorably re
eeived by the Board Of Street Commits
sioners Of this city, who have failed to
comply with the law, or pay any atten-
ton to It, except TO discuss it and de-
eide to disregard it.
Opinions differ as to what controlled
the action of the Board 1t may have
been the fear its members Gall Demo
crats) experience that under this law
their rarty..will be placed at disadvant-
age. They nay not fancy the idea of
Republicans being represented on
boards of election to see fair play and
prevent and expose Democratic frauds.
They may think it will decrease the
Democratic majority here to have an
honest vote and an honest count, such
as would be more likely,.secured ifboth
parties participated in the De auagement
Of elections, than under the existing
arrangements which give the absolute
control of all matters pertaining thereto
to the Democrats. Perhaps they are
opposed to having as clerks those who
fare able to read and write the English
language understandingly," it being
such complete innovation upon the
existing practice in some of the wards
cc - ovn;to .1o.,,, =, H. b,oo,t oe 40
average Democrat who may imagine he
sees his constitutional rights invaded,
and himself declared disqualified to
earn a dollar and half by acting as
clerk at an election. These men who
sign their names with an x, and, like
Othello, find their occupation gone, re-
sent Indignantly any such Infringement
of their privileges as is here contem-
plated, and look dlsdainfully upon the
new law, as did the Board of Street
Commissioners which resolved to treat
it as nullity. 0
1t is proper we should state, howev-
er, that it is understood the Board is
advised and maintains that Films bill
of last winter amending the city char
ter, which constitutes the Alderman,
Supervisor and Roadmaster in each
ward inspectors of election, supercedes
the state law. Now, the fact, as we
find upon reference to the record is
Films law was passed prior to the
general law, and hence We conclude
that the latter must be considered as
an amendment or repeal of the former
The will of the Legislature, as last ex-
pressed, should govern. Films law
was approved by the Governor, March
1st, and the general law received the
3 Governors signature March 9Th, zorro
borating our view as to the binding