The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-30
REFORM IN HEROIC DOSES.
Compulsory Registration and Voting Il
clared To Be Essential To Fair Election

clared To BE Essential To Fair Elections.
To THE EDTToR-iSir: Now that the popu-
lar demand of the hour all over the country
seems to be for such changes in our election
laws as will prevent political bribery and cor
ruption, and now that the general assembly of
our own state is engaged in considering
more bills designed to secure reform in the
elective system of Indiana the writer has ven
tured 10 make the following suggestions for the
consideration of the members OF the legislature,
whose duty it is to voice the sentiments of the
unpurchased and unpurchasable voters of the
state
The work required at the hands of the men,
bers of the ffty-sixth general assembly of lndi-
ana will tax their patriotism, integrity, foresight
and courage to the highest degree.
No measure that savors of partsanship
temporization will satisfy the demands of those
who are earnestly seeking for reform in this d.
rection. Any measure to accomplish the de-
sired end mast do more than to make 1t difficult
to purchase votes and to commit political
crime: it must stop short of making it abso-
lutely impossible to do So By this is meant
that it must be made as nearly impossible as
can be done by legislative enactment.
The enemies of society are sleepless, tireless
and possessed of indomitable energy and per-
severance in the accomplishment OF their evil
purposes. Napoleon, at the head OF the French
armies, before the seemingly insurmOuntabe
the plans of Italy, sent his engineers forward to
ascertain whether il were possible 10 scale those
Ice-bOund ramparts. They reported, gloOmily,
that it scarcely possible for horse or man
to pass" From the lips OF this mighty genius
OF destruction came the quick response:
Then we will forward at once" Political
scoundrelism is Napoleonic in its methods. 1t
halts at nothing hut imposslbilltieS. III
the law-abiding and upright elements
of society are TO control the destinies
of this great republic, they, too, must
be NapOleonic in their method OF dealing with
political crime. Legislation must be SO framed
to leave hiding place for political cor
ruptionsts. The right to vote and participate
in the management OF public affairs Is most
literally bestowed among our citizens, and, in
theory, seems to be highly appreciated by all.
In practice, however, this priceless privilege
seems 10 be not only abused 10 great extent,
but in many instances il is most shameiuiy
neglected. We not only need laws to punish
men for abusing this sacred right by voting Tor
hire, but we need laws TO compel the Indifferent
to exercise the right of elective franchise.
The electOr who refrains from voting from
sheer Indifference is guilty OF an inexcusable
political fault. but he who relrains from voting
for a mOneyed consideration is as deep dyed
political scoundred as he who sells his vote for
gold.
Ii is difficult to conceive OF any law that can
accomplish, in any marked degree, the purpose
of securing honest elections, unless it contain
l. A registration OF all legal voters and Sc
penalties for neglect or failure to register.
2. Every properly registered voter must be
compelled to vote, unless excused 10y the unanl-
nous judgment of a nOn-partisan tribunal ere
ated for that purpose, and the penalty for fail
ure must be male greater than the possible
price of vote.
5. The voter must be compelled to cast his
ballot IN absolute secrecy, and opportunities
must be afforded him to do so.
1. All election days must be made legal holt
days, and labor OF all kind, work OF necessity
alone excepted, must be forbidden under Sc
we're penalties.
Little argument is needed to convince think
ing men that these, something similar to
them, are indispensable provisions to an
effective election system.
The third and fourth points above stated
seem 10 be pretty thoroughly provided for IN
the bill introduced by Senator Andrew, and
now being considered by the senate, but the
first and second provisions seem to be entirely
overlooked or ignored by the author of the
bill. The gross imperfection OF such bill can
be made apparent in few words. Suppose
Senator Andrews bill, or some similar one
should become a law. Where is the provision
that would make political bribery impossible
or even difficult? 1t is said, by making the
ballot secret that it would prevent the pur-
chase of votes, because the seller could give no
proof that ne had voted in accordance with
the terms of the unlawful contract.
such a law, 1t IS true, might prevent y from
hiring b 10 vote any given ticket, because, rs is
said A would not know that the vote that he
had purchased was delivered, but it would not
prevent from hiring 3 to stay from the polls
and not vote at all, because in the latter case \
could easily learn whether the agreement had
been performed by B.
With a law such that proposed by the An
drew bill in force, the current OF the stream OF
political corruption would flow in other direc-
tions, but would in wise be suppressed.
Instead of hiring "hOater" 10 vote a given
ticket he would be paid for not voting at all,
thereby reducing the number OF votes against
the party employing him.
Again, an employer OF labor could raise the
wages of such OF his employees as he saw MT TO
fictitious rates election day, and thereby, in
effect, bribe them to stay away from the polls,
and nothing can prevent this indirect species
of bribery except a compulsory system OF regis
tering and voting.
Ii the present legislature means business let
it enact law that will reduce the opportuni-
ties for political debauchery to the lowest pos
sible degree.
Such a law can be easily framed, but there
are grave doubts in the minds of many whether
a class of politicians on both sides in the state
really desire such legislation.
The kind OF craftsmanship that delights in
charging that the opposite party bought more
disgusting and Improbable beyond expression.
1t is TO be hoped that the lawmakers of our
state will turn away from these frivolities
leaving the hideous past behind and fearlessly
make some provision for the future, unawed
by the whips of political schemers and bosses
and unbiased by party interests or preferences
Plymouth ian. 26 CHARLES kEIIISON.