The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-16
GOV. HOVEY'S INAUGURAL.
THE REPUBLICAN POLICY OUTLINED
a Registration Law Urged to Check Ballot
Box Frauds-Local Option Favored
Changes the Road Laws-Some
other Suggestions.
ITuesdar,s Daily Sentinel

the following message:
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIvES-ln conformity with the di-
rection of our constitution and the custom
which has prevailed since the organization of
our state government il has become my duty
to give you such information as | may deem
necessary in regard to the condition of the
state and to recommend such measures of leg
islation as | Judge TO be expedient In our
late national and state elections we have passed
through political ordeal of the most intense
and exciting character-one which might have
endangered the perpe;uity OF other forms of
government; but we have passed through it
peaceahly under all the excitement. Slowly,
but surely, we are convincing the world that
man is capable of sef-government, and it is
only necessary that should follow in the
foo steps of our fathers, and emulate their pru-
dence, fOrbearance, economy and patriotism to
insure the perpetuity of our free institutions.
Let us labor earnestly and honestly for the
contamination of that great end.
The Purity of the BalIot-Box.
As the government rests upon the will of the
people, every means should be taken to ac-
curately and honestly ascertain the evidence of
that WILL The elective franchise through the
medium of free and fair ballot aud full count,
is believed to be the best mode of reaching that
end, and should be carefully guarded. In the
late election charges of fraud and corruption
have been freely made by the contending par
ties, and, while we are not authorized to sit in
judgment as 10 the particular acts or cases, we
cannot shut our eyes to the facts. There is
reason 10 believe that the ballot-bOx has been
polluted, not only in this state, but in many of
the other states OF the Union, and in both
political parties, until in the eyes of many
respectable men it seems to be no longer
gaTded as a crime. This cannot continue aud
increase If we hope to perpetuate free in
situations. Ii it does, a mOneyed aristocracy
will soon control the destnies of our nation,
and that liberty which we now so highly prize
will be lost to US forever. The demagocue
who would buy the vote OF his poor and needy
neighbor, is far more corrupt and vile than his
victim, and will only wait his chance to sell the
| liberties OF his country for higher price. As
| a rule, he who buys a vote, will sell his own.
For the purpose of correcting to some extent
/ the evils which now exist / would recommend
! that our election laws be revised in order TO
prevent, as far as possible all frauds and brib-
| cry. l would call your attention, particularly,
to the consideration OF the necessity of legis-
| latiOn in regard to several matters not en-
| braced in our election laws:
l. 1t is the duty of the general assembly,
! under the ninety fifth section OF our cOnst-
tuition. Ito provide for the registration of all
| persons entitled 10 vote" This amendment
| has been in force since March II, 1881. but no
| law has yet been enacted, and the constitution
| has been disregarded. | recommend that pro
| vision be made for a full and fair registration
of all legal voters where the rights of each cleo
| tor can be investigated before the day of cleo
ton. Any person who shall hire or prevent
any elector from being duly registered should
| be subjected to fine and imprisonment
?. Limit the number of electors to each cleo
ton precinct, so as not to exceed 500 voters.
| 8. Provide that every precinct shall be sur
| rounded and protected by some kind OF bar
| rers or guard rails which will prevent all per-
| sons, except the person voting, from approach
/ ing nearer than forty or fifty feet from the in
spectors, judges and clerks of the election, and
make the infraction of this rule misdemeanor
punishable by fine.
1. Provide that the buying, or offering TO
buy, the vote of any elector, directly or indi-
rectly, or by any subterfuge, or evasion, or pre-
] tense, or by hiring any person to work for the
election OF any candidate at the polls, shall be
criminal, with penalty OF disfranchisement for
| life, to the briber and the bribed. and for a
second Oflense, after conviction, let the penalty
| be not less than two years in the state prison.
| Men who will thus poliute and corrupt the bal
! lot are not worthy of exercising the elective
/ franchise, and should never be trusted. / sug-
gest that it might be policy TO exempt wit
nesses from punishment in bribery cases where
they may be implicated. 1t will be almost inn
! possible to convict the guilty briber without
such exemption.
| 3. Make it unlawful and criminal for any
! political convention or committee to demand
exact or receive any assessment or contribution
| from any candidate for office, and provide the
penalty of disfranchisement for life to the
! member or members of such convention or
| committee who may demand or attempt to
| enforce such assessment or contribution. No
| office should be placed beyond the reach of
| the poorest man in the state. Nominations
| now are said to have their price, like the Ro
| man purple of ancient days, and it is our duty.
| il possible 10 put an end to such corruption.
6. Make it unlawful, with heavy fine and
/ imprisonment for any person to challenge
| legal voter at the polls. Let the challenger
| beware. and, as he imputes an attempted crime
| against the eectOr who oilers to vote, let him,
| before he makes the challenge, be assured that
| he himself is not the criminal. Many legal
| voters have been driven from the polls by I'M
! iustifable and illegal challenges. The chal-
ienge at the polls is one of the most successful
! devices of the bully and "bulldozer," and
should be prohibited under penalty.
As auxiliary to the proposed amendments,
| | would suggest that a separate act be passed.
| requiring every officer elected in the state to
| take additional oath of Office to the oath now
| prescribed by law declaring that he has not di-
rectly or indlrecdygiven promised or advanced,
| or paid any money, or given, or conveyed
any other article of value to any person, or per-
| sons, to aid assist, or procure his election, or
| appointment and providing that should such
| oath be false the convicted offender shall be
| disfranchised and rendered incapable of hold
| ing any office OF trust, or proht in the state,
and SHALL also, be answerable to the criminal
| laws of the state for perjury. Senators and
representatives, let me most earnestly urge
| upon you the protection of the ballot-box,
which is the ark of the covenant Of our free in
Institutions.
Liquor Laws.
Obsolete laws and statutes which are so far
in advance OF the age, or far behind it, TO be
wholly disobeyed and disregarded should, with
out the least hesitation, be repealed. Laws
which are never enforced are like dead wood
upon living tree; they are not only useless,
but tend 70 weaken and bring our statutes into
disrepute and contempt Our people should
realize that every act of the general assembly
has been made TO be enforced, and not paraded
on our statutes as a threat which will never be
executed. There are now laws on our statutes
which come within the purview of these OBJ
servations. Our present laws in regard TO the
sale of intoxicating liquors are disregarded in
many parts of the state. In some localities
| large numbers or peoplea are decidedly opposed
| to the licensing of the sale of intoxicating
| liquors, while in others no prohibitory law
could be enforced. Ii seems to me it would be
| wise to so frame our laws as to meet both
conditions I believe a local-option law for
the sale or prohibition of ardent spirits would
| be constitutional, and that il would be wisdom
to permit the people to choose which system
/ they would prefer in each county. city or in
| corporated town in the state. Our institutions
are founded upon the democratic theory that
! q majority should rule, and | submit that
/ the question of local option should be left to
the voice of the people, and that all
| laws passed for the purpose of regulating the
/ sale of intoViPatinsr liouorS should he ri0idiy