Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-19

Resolutions of the Knights of Labor on
the Australian System.


the Australian System.
BUTTE CITY, October 15.-The ballot is
the chiefest privilege. of American citizen
ship and a powerful instrument for good
Or evil, good when men vote according to
the dictates of conscience, evil when cast
under the influence OF bribery or coercion.
"A 0oITupV uunuU means corrupt puDnc
officials, and consequently corrupt admin
lstration OF public affairs and unjust and
inequitable law. Hence the safety of the
nation, the purity of the laws and the
happiness and prosperity OF the people de-
mand that the greatest safeguards be
thrown around the ballot box. That nom
residents may be prevented from voting,
that repeating may be rendered impossible
and that the colonization OF voters may
be discouraged. a system of registrati, n
law Is absolutely required. That bribery
may fall OF its purpose, and hat working
men may not be intimidated or coerced
into voting against their convictions by
their employers, the secret or Australian
system OF voting has become a prime neces-
sity.
Both have lately been established in
Montana-a fact we hail with 10y. Both
have but just been put into practical oper.
q ton, yet both have already been assailed |
with plausible argument, ridicule, vituper- |
atlon and pre- JUDGE. This we must de-.
plore. Registration is denounced as incon.I
convenient and the possible cause of some |
honest man losing his votel Inconvenience
Is preferable to invalidation, and the loss
one honest vote is fully compensated by
the prevention of q dishonest one. The
Australian ballot system is assailed as ex-
penslve aud complicated! Who shall esti.
mato Che maximum worth of an honest
ballot, OF deprive it's simplicity? It is rid.
lculed as an Importation from Ne Caledo-
MA or Botany Bay! Cannot any rood
out OF Nazareth? Odium is cast upon
e, by comparing it, to the preparation
undergoes for the ~gallows! Preiu.
lice Is sought to be aroused again-t it by
me patriotic ~ declaration that IAN
nlerlcan citizen must never be subjected !
% a foreign system of voting" Ali that
ne cunning and ingenuity OF ambitious,
eiosh and INSCRIPTIONS men can devise 6
or lts II 1ury, is being urged to SECURE it's
,ower and blasted hopes, the downfall oil
heir political supremacy and the defeat OF .
heir seinsh ambitions. Hence their frantic !
pposition.
ne preservation of both systems meansI
D Worklngmen freedom of action and per-
equality at the polls, the entire absence G
I fraudulent voting, bribery, intimidation n
nd coercion, a free ard unrestricted ex. =.
ressioE OF public desire and public opinion u
nd the ultimate working Gus of all those
'iorms needed to properly adjust aud b
luailze the relations between labor and W
'pltal. Hence our earn. st support of the NJ
VI" h,
In view of the foregoing be it t,
Ths we, the members OF Pho. W
er Assembly, No. 1880. knights of La ii
IF, 40 hereby declare ourselves uucom. W
omlslngly and unalterably in favor of en-
registration and Australian ballot; avs. &C
. OF voting; that we recognize in them til
. rue remedies for evils at present ex. la
Ing among US; that tn ir defenders merit m,
II gratitude, and that their defamers NJ
I'll incur our resentment; that We cali ar
an working men. labor Organizations tn
D puollc' press, and all who are inclined ics
justice to take their stand with ma in
,or OF "a lair ballot and an honest
resolved, That this defense or yindics. g..
n OF the registry and Australian ballot Oh
70 ne published in the daily Inter Noun
u and the BUTTE DAILY MINER and H. ,
.ntaDa Labo Argus.
IoNEER ASSEMBLY, No. 1880. K.opI III
sEAL.1