The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-20
Kimbaf1 Dali. Feb. nth 1sss

Kimbar1 Oak. Feb. 18th 1885.
Editor GRApHIc-Sir: your issue of Feb. 18th
contains a communication from C. NJ. Austin
which you state editorially will bear a careful
reading" Some of the suggestions in Mr.. Aus
tins article are both practical and timely. 1t is
important that, as he suggests members Of the
legislature should be kept informed of the real
wants of their constituents, but it may be doubt
ed whether Mr.. Austin's proposal to repeal the
registry law is desirable. The present time how
ever 10 a fitting one to discuss the matter. Our
election laws need to be reformed, from the
audacious attempt to steal u senatorship ut Chi
cago down to the pitifulest county seat squabble
in Dakota We have fraudulent elections and ille-
gal voting. The Legislatures of Illinois and
Michigan have each before them a bill relating
to this matter. The Supreme court OF one state
has lately declared unconstitutional a law which
provides that no votes but those of registered
electors shall be received. 1t is important there
fore to know what is likely to be the attitude of
the constitution of the future State of Dakota
on the question. Unlike the GRAPHIC and MIR.
Austin | think our registration law should not
BIO repealed unless it be superseded by a NOR,
perfect registry law. The registry law of Dakota
is doubtless very imperfect. but it would not be
difficult to show that it is good for something
and if the board Of registers do their work care
fully and vigilantly it will be found hardly pos.
sihae for anyone to register as many names o.
he can call to mind So far as the law ia de.
fective or the board neglectful the remedy is re-
form, not repeal. What would We say il our
sheriff, seeing a thief making off with his poll,
) should council the repeal of the law Furnishing
larceny because people wonld not be honest? Oh
if the thief should escape because the indictment
did not charge that his act was contrary to the
peace and dignity of the Territory" Most PEG.
pie will DO of opinion that the remedy in such a
case would be the removal of the sheriff and the
amendment of the Law of Procedure, not the 70.
pead of the law providing q punishment for theft,
I believe thorough registration is the best meant
yet devised to secure purity in elections. Let nc
vote BE- received that is not rendered by O daly
registered ~elector. The whole miserable system
of challenging md swearing in votes at the polls
should be abolished. 1t is the fruitful parent OF
pursurers and lies, and is oftenest used by knav.
ish politicians as a pretext to vex and annoy the
honest voters. l believe that a study of the hi.s
tory of elections will show that where regist IN
ton has been compulsory and efficient, DIieea
votes have co~rrespondingly few.
While Mr.. Austin does well to call our atm
ton to the Laws of Legislators" it might M
be amiss for us to look at matters ,aearor ON,
selves. If the Brule county COMM ,ssioners ma
s. for printing which they could ct done AZ vel
for 81, perhaps it would be a goo d thing to tax
tho bean out OF our own eye before offering GU
services to our mote troubled brother. It ca
scarcely b. considered the legitimate bushes
OF county commissioners to establish strue
Cling newspapers" with tho tux payers money.
James Brown.
TNr Arotsn no, 10 -----