The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-11

NON. itNi. ~ wv" A'' - "" wv
message 10 III. Legislature, urges
tie importance 81 q measure -
n,o,ecl tho ballot. The New York
San sa,- ii regard 10 n:
AZ "a the wisdom OF the PROPOSE
tion that the ballots for AL elections
shall be furnished at public expense
under suitable and proper regnla
tions. the Governor expresses some
doubt. but, having no special 90
lection to II, he recommends the
change as al experiment fairly en-
fitted 10 reasonable trial. No
abuse would he likely 70 occur -
Tar az the tickets OF the rr'nclPa
political parties are concerned, Or
indeed in the case OF any party
which had shown considerable
strength hy the number Of vote
polled ut previous election.
Difficulty would arise, however. i
the law required ballots to be PRINT
ed and furnished at each polling
place for candidate who really re
presented no party, and was put in
10 the field at his own instance or
that Of few hundred persons. a.
the Governor well says: "lt is not
believed to be desirable. nor is i
lust to taxpayers, thst every pol'tI
cal adventurer who desires 10 run
for public Office should have his
ballots printed at public expense,
regardless OF his merits and the eX
tent OF his following, or the motives
or purposes OF his candidacy" II
this were 10 be tolerated there
would soon be greater outcry
against printing ballots at the pub
lie expense than there ever has
been in favor OF It.
In any event, the Governor is
clear that the power u furnish bal
lots should not be exclusively vest
ed in the State, county, or city. Iu
This view he is quite right. A voter
should be allowed to procure his
ballot from any source he pleascs
aud vote il. so long as it complies
with the requirements OF the law ~
respect TO torn. lie should be per-
mitted to take an official ballot il
he likes, or to vote one which ne
has received from Q candidate to-
office, or to prepare bis ballot at
home by himself, bring it with him
to the polls and deposit it 10 the
ballot box.
But the Governor might have
gone even further. Any system Of
statutory regulation, the necessary
effect of which is to deprive the
voter Of the privilege Of voting for
any person who under the Constl-
tufion Of the State is eligible to tie
Office to be filed, is unconstitution-
OIL and therefore invalid.
Take, for example, an election
for President. The voter is under
no legal or moral obligation to vote
tor the thirty-six persons who hap.
pcn to be nominated Is electors in
this State on he Republican Or
Democratic or Prohibition ticket.
He is entitled to nominate o com
plete electoral ticket for himself
10 pick out the names OF those cti.
zens whom be deems best fitted tc
fulfill the important function com
mitted to the members Of the Eec
toral College; aud neither the State
through the Legislature, nor an,
political party by means Of its con
veution, has any right whatever t
prevent him from making his owt
selection of candidates, or to com
pei him to vote for Get Of candi
dates chosen by somebody else.
Any eo.called ballot reform
which is based upon the idea tina
the voter cannot choose bis candl
dates for himself IL founded upon
fallacious view Of our institution!
and cannot prevail.