Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-12-19


yers can't understand il. Ard this
is what the people get in RESPONSE to
their demands. Even the learned
,uperintendent's article constituting
the law is filled with doubts.
But as amends for this we are
told that they have purified the
political atmosphere. The people
were showing a jealousy of caucuses
and conventions which were getting
to be run by hucksters and charla-
tans and which present the widest
opportunities TO thwart the will of
the people and for all kinds OF fraud,
and so their fears and solicltudc for
their welfare aud safety was met by
an act adopting those engines of
political managers. AS the law
was the will Of the people was
stronger than they; but when man
ipulated caucuscs and conventions
are clothed with the authority of
law and no body of men recognized
az having authority to make nomi-
nations except political parties,
(which at the last election polled at
least one per ccntum of the entire
VOTE" and then requires complicated
forms and ceremonies to be com
piled with before those nominations
are to be recognized, the will Of the
people, unless it be in conformity to
those political manipulations, Is
chokcd and smothcred. If, as the
lawyers say, these are proceedings
IN MUitunt, and must be strictly
complied with, the next Legislature
will find itself in a dismal tangled
swamp filled with contested cleo
tions that will require whole SEES
sion to clean out.
Ii entirely new issues arise ant
the people demand a party be
ginning de moro what is to be done
Instead of ballots being paid for b.
the candidates, who are able ant
willing to pay for them, they are t
he printed and distributed at tn
public expense. Booths. guards
and new and hitherto unknown
appurtenances are to be supplied a
the public expense. Let localities
especially small towns, look abou
and see what they are called upo
, by this law to do.
, And so every caucus and CONVEX
tion can now act Officially y, and ever
. voter can cast an "official ballot,
and shall have FIVE minutes in silenc
and alone to prepare his (?) vot'
giving a town of 200 voters l6 hour
ard Al minutes Gf there is an ele'
ton the first ballot, say for tow
representative, and if not, whs
then?) and a nice little squad {
officials, including a prcSi ling Office
who has duties to perform in sou,
instances before no is designatet
And now comes the penal provIsio
imposing punishment on any otiici
who hinders "thc objects of til
Act" 1t puts a partisan with Il
, voter, and out of public Observable
and then forbids HIM attempting
influence the voter. Put cat al
mouse in a booth together al
:, post mp notice farbidding the C;
:, meddling with the mouse and yc
!. have a pat illustration of the pra
= teal application of this law. 1t
! indeed novel sight to see organize
political maneuverers clothed wi
l. the dignity of law and acting cot
!, cially" under the law, and polite
-, parties running at the "publ
expense.
, But we have time to say no mo
at present only to thank God, al
. Thompson, and one or two other
% that the Legislature did not tramp
:, down every fundamental law of L
i State and raze every constitution
!, limitation that has preserved &
! liberties Of the people and Ike
- legislation within due bounds ey
:, since the State was organized.