Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-21
CRIMINAL RES oNs1BILITy.

The Ohio Legislature is now conceded
to the Republicans by the Democrats.
There IS one regret coupled with this re-
suit OF the late election. In the satisfac-
ton of victory, we fear that the prosecu.
ton of the men guilty of the outrages
upon the ballot-boxes will cease There
have been such frauds perpetrated in the
Ohio election as concern the whole coun-
try. There never vet was offered better
opportunity to make few :terrible ex-
amples" which would tend to strengthen
the securities that the law throws around
the elective franchise. But the law is
fearfully weak. There is no sufficient
punishment for the election officers who
neglect the plain and clear duty pre-
scribed for them. The man who does not
know enough to fill out the blanks in a
tally-sheet who has not sufficient intelli-
genee to follow the express and very sim
pie directions for making returns, has not
sense enough to serve on an Election
Board. The men who are intelligent
enough to serve ought to be held to
criminal responsibility for all material err
rors. Such should be the law in this and
all the States. When we have such laws,
and they are enforced, incompetent men
will not obtain places upon these impor-
tant bodies. There is not a third-rate
business house in the entire land that
would for moment tolerate such miser-
able neglect and rascally deeds of omis-
sion as have been perpetrated at the polls
IN Cincinnati and Columbus. But the
men who are guilty will, in all prob
ability, go Scot-free, and thus a pre-
MUM will be offered for the ignorant.
careless and INSCRIPTIONS to seek po-
sitions on Election Boards next wear.
We very much mistake the temper
OF the American people if they do not
bring these shameful practices to an end
presently. There must be limit to them.
The people will not always submit to the
annual Acknowledgement that dishonest
men work for them. 1t has been suggested
that the honest men Of all parties should
put watchers in the polling places to see
to 1t that all the requirements of the law
are complied with. But this would be no
remedy, for the tricksters of party can al
ways hoodwink the decent men, and be-
sides, the proposition is one that burdens
the private citizen with duty that Others
are sworn and paid to perform. 1t is inva-
risbly sign of weakness in the law and its
executors, when citizens are driven to do
the duty of officials. Now, the proper
remedy for these election outrages, is Grim.
mai responsibility, and to fix the matter
beyond all question, let the law declare
that the mere fact of error that is material
to the result shall be conclusive of the re-
sponsibility of the officer whose neglect OF
wllifulneSs causes it. We need precisely
such a law in this State. That we now
have on the subject is inadequate. The
tricksters, bosses, strikers and party hire.
lings can beat ii without any diff.
Guilty, and it has no restraining influence
upon them. As for the oath of election
officers to faithfully and truly do duty
that IS Of barn-door width in its opportu
mites for avoidance, since the officer car
invariably shield himself behind the pie;
of error Of judgment.