The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-16

There i no reform worthy Of more
co-saial support from The American
people than that Of our present ssee-
ion methods. This isst:s Is now being
SERIOUSLY agitated In several states OF
The North. and the legislatures OF New
YORK Hew Jersey. Pennsylvania, In
diana and Maine seem determined TO
mt - eus: 10 frauds at the polls and
r.zs laws which will tend TO purify Our
ro,itscs. make oar elections less dis
honest and corrupt and entitie them
70 Be regarded - free and fair express
sions o. the popular will.
The most commendable work the
aftieth congress could accomplish
vould BE- TO pass law extending 70
elections for president and representa-
dives 70 congress the methods OF ballot
tv,x reform which the states mentioned
hsve approved and are eIgraffing into
fheir statutes. The Australian system
IL voting has met with considerable
fnyor In those states where its best fca-
fures have been examined, and the
cone!nsion has bsen reached that no
better system has been devised to Sc
eure honest elections and do away
With the corrupt practices which have
unfortunately become so common In
fhe United States In connection With
exercising the rights of suffrage.
The evils which, IL i hoped, new
election laws might eradicate vary ar-
cor ding to locality. They consist In
fhe extravagant use Of money for
bribery and the buying OF votes in
states such as New York, New Jersey
and Indiana; bailotrbox stufiing and
: registry manipulation Ii states such
= west Virginia and South Carolina.
and intimidation, violence and muir
der in the black districts OF the gulf
states. It IL idle TO deny that they all
exist, that American political morals
are dehAsed thereby and that, II the
evils are allowed to continue and grow.
the public peace and safety Is en-
dangered and the perpeiuation OF re-
publican government rendered less Sc
cure and certain.
The time Is ripe for this beneticent
reform. Both great parties concede
corrupt elections are harmful TO the
best interests of the country and both
show willingness 10 engage system
aticaily in providing means for con
Quoting them In way that viii be
more creditable TO a great a nd free
people. Some Of tile Northern states,
q has been shown, have already be-
gun reform in their state and munich
pal elections and in tha last congress
several Southern members were in
ciined to favor heartily the idea Of the
nation paying the expenses OF presi-
Dental and congressional elections
and putting in force laws which, so
far as those elections are concerned,
would practically guarantee a free ex-
preston Of popular VIII and sentis
ment. Congressional interference
with state. county or municipal cleo
tions would. OF eourYe, he impossible,
but the questions as 10 who shall be
our chief magistrate and as 10 who
shall make laws for the entire country
are vital 10 every American citizen.
Elections for these public servants lose
their local significance: the entirs ma
tion is interested in them and ii is only
fair. just aud proper that the nation
should have some sort Of supervision
over them and see they are conducted
honestly, whether. II be in the North.
In the South. In the East or In the
West.