The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1888-07-05
School Election.

OAio SNHOSl NIStiAItg NIA a'ecS 1NeU
day, an election for one school
trustee to fill the vacancy caused
by the expiration of the term of
office Of Antonio Gonzales.
The only candidates known to
the people were, Antonio Gonzales
and w. H. Gibbons.
The result of the election was
that Gibbons received 1876 votes and
Antonio Gonzales 10.
Mr.. Gibbons was declared elected
and his certificate issued to him.
We congratulate the people on the
result, and we believe and venture
the prediction that Mr.. Gibbons
will prove worthy of the delicate
trust imposed on him by his neigh
bors and friends; always reinem-
bering, that the public schools of
the country are the bulwarks of
American liberty-the peculiar
property Of the people, who will
watch with jealous care their man.
agement.
This election is significant and
suggestive. Gibbons overwhelming
majority, teaches two strong and
healthy lessons.
/. 1t is a merited and ringing re-
buke to a silly, shallow trick.
In the general election law par.
1913 there is n provision "that every
ticket must be of paper of white
color. uniform in size, color, weight,
texture and appearance" and that
is followed by the asinine proyis-
ion, par. 1852, that mo ticket must
be used at any election, or circu-
lated on the day of election, unless
it is written or printed on paper
furnished by the Secretary of the
Territory, or upon paper in every
respect precisely like such paper"
Some parson, prominent in the
Gonzales party, knew Of this par
ticular and peculiar provision of
the statute. Advised his friends to
procure that paper as essential to a
legal election; keep it profound
secret from the Gibbons party ; APP
point judges and an inspector who
would reject any ticket not printed
or written upon the regulation pa
per, and thus, regardless of the will
of the people, by silly, shallow
trick, re-elect Gonzales trustee. A
bundle of the regulation paper ar
rived by express Friday night, ad-
dressed to Hon. r. E. Morrison.
Probate Judge. When the opposi-
ton learned of its arrival, applica-
ton was made to buy or borrow
some of it from Gonzales by a
school trustee and an elector, and
they were informed that there was
none to spare. 1t strikes us, that
the Probate Judge, who is ex-officio
County Superintendent of Public
instruction, and who must have
known of this singular law, and
who received this regulation green
paper, would not have missed his
duty far, had he seen to it, that all
VI the provisions of the law were
fully explained to jew and gentle
alike, and that all electors had
equal chance to use the old regula-
ton. But the paper which he re-
ceived was for the sole use of tire
Gonzalesites, and the Gibbonsites
must shift for themselves. They
did shift, and as the boys say, "they
got there, Eli" They were inform
ed of the absurd provisions of the
statutes, AMI though advised that
strict conformity to its letter was
not necessary yet, to avoid trouble
and complication, it was wise to
have some regulation.
By hard riding for two nights aud
liberal use OF the wires, the regula-
ton green paper reached here by
sun up Saturday morning, and by
nine o'clock the tickets were print
ed, circulated, and by four O'Clock
1876 of them voted.