Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-02-01

CONSIDERING the fact that the Aust a.
liam system of conducting elections is
now before the Dakota legislature the
following regarding election reform from
the New York World will be read with
interest:
1t is a sign OF great promise that in many
states at once there is a movement to Sc
cure greater purity of elections. Measures
resembling the SaNton bill III general
principles have been proposed in several
states. in some by one party and in some
by the other. The provoking cause is
sometimes complaint of fraud by republi-
cans and sometimes by democrats. but the
best public opinion in both parties every
where favors the establishment of better
detences against bribery and crime Every
where those politicians are regarded
with suspicion who strive to pre-
vent wholesale legislation on pre-
texts such rs those to which Gov
ernor Hill resorts. 1t is everywhere per-
ceived that the old methods are crude and
defective. that they actually fail to protect
the secrecy or the purity of the ballot. and
that good citizens must be ready to sacri-
flee something of convenience or prefer
ence in order to secure for each state and
for the country more trustworthy express
sions of the popular will.
The end to be obtained being so desira-
bic. there is no occasion to consider
| this OF hat case are well founded. No
one attempts to deny that there is great
need of Improvement in election methods.
and that is enough. Whether this or that
party will gain most or lose most by a
change ought 10 be held a question OF in
slgnlncant lmportance: party has no
! business to exist that cannot sustain itself
with an honest. free and fair ballot.
Objections to proposed methods on the
score of inconvenience or hardship to a
small minority Of voters. even When they
are most honestly urged. ought to be con-
sidered With reference to the vital fact that
| TO any citizen the value of the franchise
depends on this, that it tends to insure good
government. Some persons are now eN-
resided the required time in a state or
town. But though these provisions were at
| first criticised. the people have come
/ to realize that it is better for few
to loose their votes than for all to
lose purity of elections, and in
( consequence TO lose good govern
ment. \ little experience under any other
/ provisions OF law that may be found neces-
sary will cause them to be equally appre-
! ciated. and with equal heartiness accepted
!! In order to have a ballot worth anything
| in the hands of anybody. it must be CON
| fined to those who have the right to vote
who can establish that right according to
legal tests, and who can exercise it in a
manner described by law.
| Objections on the score of expense to the
! state are frivolous. if the methods proposed
!. will lessen the cost Of elections on the
/ whole The enormous sums now eX-
i pended by political parties are as much
part of the expense of elections
/ under present methods. and come as
( truly from the pockets of the people, as if
every dollar was drawn from the public
I treasury. The waste and loss are not less
because individuals bear them. On the
contrary. the loss is many times greater, if
those who contribute expect and plan to
get back many times as much through cor
rupt legislation or misconduct in Office. IT
oy any methods it is possible to substitute
a small expenditure by the state. exclu-
slvely for the public good. instead Of large
expenditure by each of two or more par
ties. eXclu lively Tor the good OF parties or
individual. the gain in economy will be
great, and yet not the only or the greatest
gain.
This movement towards more honest
elections should be encouraged and helped
forward in all the states. wherever any
real improvement is proposed. 1t will not
be found practicable to attain the same de-
gree of efficiency for laws against corrup-
tion in all the states. The very methods
which work best in one may work ill or not
at all in others, the state of public opinion
being different. But hearty concurrence of
all good citizens can accomplish much this
year, and by breaking through old abuses
can clear the way everywhere for still fur
ther progress.