Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-17
A GOOD LAW SHAMEFULLY
PERVERTED.

THE registration and election law
OF this Territory was enacted by the
Legislature in ISIS. 1t was opposed
by the ''Liberal'' schemers, who
desired TO gain by fraud advantages
they could not secure by numbers.
The could find no specific fault
with il. They were secured In rep
resentatiOn upon the board OF
judges wherever they had cast a
vote, and at the official count OF
election returns. The registration
officers were the assessors with their
deputies. The county clerks re-
ceived the returns and the county
courts canvassed them. The JUS
tices Of the peace heard objections
to the right to vote. All these
were regular officials, and un.
der bonds for the faithful
performance Of their duties. They
were also res Onsible men, elected
by the people and bona 5de resid-
ents and properly owners. The
rights Of all parties and citizens
were secured under Its provisions
and operations.
1t is now claimed by certain
"Liberals'' that 'ft is an Infamous
law" They say sit was designed
to make it impossible for any Gentle
to hold an office in this Territory
The answer to that is, it was framed
with the advice, assistance and ap-
proval Of some oft most promin-
ent Liberals" in the Territory, in
GLIDING judges, lawyers, merchants
and the Governor. The intent Of
its trainers was to secure the purity
Of elections and the rights OF all the
voters. Its operations demonstrated
this, and no legal voter that we know
Of ever complained OF anything in
regard TO it except that 1t gave no
room for "Liberal' frauds. 'sGen-
tiles" tcere elected to office under
its provisions. There was nothing
in it to prevent their election if they
only had a majority Of supporters
We do not Claim that the law was
perfect But We do say II is as good
as any election law in the country.
There is no better way to secure an
absolutely secret ballot than the
rules it requires. The precautions
it embOdies against the voting Of
transients may cause some hard
ships to persons removing from one
place to another, and to those absent
at registration times, but these are
more the result Of recent improper
administrations OF the law than
fault in the law itself, which is
thoroughly equitable and fair to all
parties. Its imperfections would
have been removed, and the wrongs
possible to be perpetrated prevented
but for the Governors veto of
measures honestly designed for
that purpose.
The evils that have arisen and
that now exist have sprung out Of
the provisions Of the Edmund, Act,
the constructions that have been
placed upon by the appointed officers
acting under it, and the unlawful
and criminal conduct Of some Of
those officials.
Under the Utah statute, a. We
have shown, the registration and
election officers wereelective; under
the Edmunds Act they are appoint
i've by an appointed Commission.
These appointees are not, usually.
responsible persons, but, chiefly, in
dividuals without property anu
some Of them without character.
They are not placed under bonds.
II they are sued for damages by de-
frauded citizens they have nothing
for the law to levy upon. The jury
lists and the panel are 50 manipu-
lated that there is no chance for
Justice against them if prosecuted.
50 that frauds are perpe:rated with
comparative immunity, and the
petty officials defy the authority
which appoints them, while that
suffers its directions to be
treated with contempt and pretends |
md overs that elections are fairly
conducted.
One thing, particularly, should be- |
Kept in mind: Under the Utah
tatute the elected justices of The
'eace, having given proper bonds,
leard and determined objections To
he right TO vote. From all their
decisions there was an appeal to the
ligher courts. There was never
ny complaint Of injustice, under
heir administration Of this law.
But the Utah Commission, acting
ccording to their own construction |
{ the Edmunds Act, have appointed
ersons known TO be active in the
interest Of the "Liberal" party, and
ecommendHd to them by "Liber-
Isl for that very reason. They
ave been chiefly such persons as
re described in the preceding para
raph. They are not regular ju-
icial officers, nor under bonds, and
ON their decisions, IT Is ruled.
iere is no appeal. So that they
IN and do defy law, justice and the
Icred rights of citizens, rob legal
Oters Of the franchise, and strike
q names from the voting lists as
icy please, and there is no re-
ress.
This condition Of affairs is adj =
lifted to be shameful, 4" even by
lose who seek to profit by it. But !
ley charge it to the law. This is 5
shameful" as the outrages for ]
hich 1t Apologies. II the law
ere administered according 10 It's J
tier and its spirit the troubles c
Of would not exist. 1t
the perversion and disregard Of : :
e law that are TO blame The '
imunds Act reqnires "proper per {