Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-13

stiAine sufrrage in Louisiana.

Siding Suffrage in Louisiana.
The right of suffrage in every South
ern State controlled by the democrats is so
hampered and restricted, that though the
opposition have large majority OF votes
il is wiped out either before the ballots
are cast or afterward. One of the latest
attempts to wipe out the republican vote
ID found in an act passed by the legisla-
ture of Louisiana which has just ad-
journed, in relation to the election Of
members Of Congress. 1t provides that
in all elections Of representatives to Con-
gress the ballots shall be cast in a sepa-
rate box to be provided by the Supervisors
of Elections 1t further provides that the
Supervisors shall be appointed by the
Governor and Lieutenant Governor forty
days prior to an election. who shall meet
three DAYS before an election and revise
the registration books, erasing such names
rs they may deem to be improperly on the
registry lists. the corrected books to be
VIlulh istiifb EtlbEutt VI tuC bhhhIo tsitN
numbers of the qualified electors In a
parish. In addition TO the above powers
these parish Supervisors are authorized to
select three persons in each precinct for
Commissioners Of Elections who shall not
be Of the same party If suitable persons Of
different parties are to be found in the pre-
cinct. As no such qualification is made in
regard to the Supervisors, who are the
most important officers, it is fair to infer
that the bourbons who enacted the law in
tend that none but democrats shall be Sc
lected for those most important positions.
The Commissioners are simply to receive
the votes on the day of election. Having
done this, and without counting them,
they are TO put the check lists in the box,
lock and seal it and send il to the Super
shall count. tabulate and return the votes.
1t would seem that these precautions
would enable the party managers to elect
whomsoever they may please. regardless
Of the votes deposited by the voters, but
it did not seem to satisfy the democratic
Legislature of Louisiana. Another section
of the bill not only prescribes the size of
the ballot, but the weight and texture of
the paper and type in which it must be
printed, and even declares that no ballot
will be legal unless printed on paper sold
by the Secretary of State or upon paper
precisely similar in every respect. The
law further provides that any ballot which
has any mark or impression other than is
defined by law. or is folded so as to dis
tinguish it from others. must he rejected
by the Supervisors of Election. 1t is
said that the facsimile given in the act
does not accord with the printed require
ments of the measure. 1t is believed,
from what is known of the past conduct
of the bourbon managers. that, hav-
ing the ballot-boxes in their hands five
days. they will be able to so revise the
registry lists. mark and fold the ballots,
that any Objectionable candidate can be
disposed of without difficulty.
This infamous act and many more like
it. purposelv framed and enacted to de-
fraud voters of the right of suffrage and
render elections base frauds. are upheld
by the democratic party. the organs OF
which are now sniveling about political
assessments and bribery with Jesuitieal
hypocrisy.