The Russellville Democrat., 1891-03-05


 came to take the vote ou the passage of the bill desire here to say that I am, in my judgment, as good a Democrat as any member of this general assembly. have all my life labored long, hard ana necessarily for the success Of the grand old party, believing, as I do, thai the Democratic party is the best and purest party to-day under the sun. And if any man in Arkansas has done more for the party than 1 have, it is because he had more money or more brains, and of that l am not 10 blame.
 At this point Senator Sumpter said {: "No man in the state doubts your Dem- ocracy.r
 Mir. President, the first section of this bill Is objectionable rom the fact that II IS q centralization of power. The bili puts the appointing power in ihe governor. auditor and secretary of state, who shall constitute the state board of election commissioners. who shah appoint three qualified elec- tors not more than ninety nor less than thirty days before any general election, to select election judges, who shall have the power and authority not only to se- feet inc elective officers, who shall have power and authority 10 change or alter
 
 voting precincts at their will and con- yenience without any hindrance what ever. Now. l submit, in all candor, is this fairl By this bill you take the ap- pointment oi the judges of election out ot the hands of the county judges, who are elected by the people and for that as well as other county purposes 1 submit, IS this not taking it out of the hands of the peoplel The Democratic ; party of this government has been fight Ing the centralization of power ever Hce the foundation of this government,
 my opinion, will continue to
 nE al time 10 come. As evil
 as fact l r,fer you
 Dshal fight made against ~ Lodge bill so recently, which has created the bitterest fight made in this government within the last quarter of century. The first sec ton IS the most objectionable Of any in the bill, but there are many other ob- jectionable features in the bill to which we, the minority were not even allowed to offer an amendment. If we were all lowed to perfect the bill as we think it ought to be, the senator from Polk tCiements), the senator from Yell tWsshburn), and myself would gladly port il, but this bill has been in preparation two years by certain mem bers of this general assembly, but was never brought 10 light until It made its appearance in the caucus, of which oppose, as 1 think it unsafe legi la tion. passing all other defects, which are numerous, the bill provides that the sheriff shall, if the commissioners fail 10 tix place for holding the election, fix the place by putting up posters in five public places in such precinct, but it does not say hew long. which we think it ought to do. He might, if he so desired, fix the place the night before or on the morning of the election, other than the regular place of holding the election, which we learn has been done and night be again. A further objection is, any judge shall have the right to remain with the bal lot box, but during which time the count Is adjourned safe place of de- posit shall be agreed upon by the judges, they may deposit the same.
 Now, this has caused more confusion and gave more campaign thunder to the opponents of Democracy than anything else for the last four years. Ano her objection is the booth process in this bill. The electors shall go into pound, made for that purpose, like so many Texas poneys, and there make out his ticket, or, If he cannot, call one of the elt ction judges 10 his assistance and make the same out in five minutes. ! Then he shall go fifty feet away from 1 this booth, and, if any person shall take or carry any ballot outside, he shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and fined. Now, we think this very un- fair and very unjust.
 And, further, no person shall. on Jor xx-ft htxp 6ra faa If any polling room, electioneer with any one. This, we think wrong, and some thing the people of the state will not endorse, and, in my opinion, the people will make themselves heard after they try the opperation of this aw. Having voted so long under the present law, they will not be prepared for such radical change as this. It has been said to me that thus election bill will increase our majority in the state 10000 votes. If thought this, would not oppose it, but would take my seat and support the bill. but fear it will cost us 10000 or 20,000 votes in the g. ate snd we cannot afford to take any chances. Remember in 1886 we carried the state by nearly 37, ,0O0 majority. What have we done since? We have never come within 16,- GOO votes of that majority. There is no use in disgusting the fact that there is a very formidable alefient in this state to-day which claims to be independent of both the Democratic and Republican parties, and should they form an alliance with the minority our chances are doubtful in the next contest, and the history of that organization has been thrCu ghout the government to affiliate or allie with the minority of each and every state that by so doing they had any show whatever of defeating the maj rity So we may reasonably expect such move in Arkansas, and should they sue ceed we furnish them the club 10 break our own heads. They can manipulate the election in their own interest and to perpetuafe themselves in power which we, the minority, here think extremely dangerous, and 1t would be expecting too much of our commission, and If we should they certainly would not use el. ction machinery in their own inferest, contrary to right, justice and fairness.
 feel confident our governor would never. under any circumstances, use the election commission In any other than legitimate ways and in trying to have fair and honest elections throughout the state. AS to the uniform ballot feature 0S this bin we think that good one, nd endorse that, and we are aware hat there are changes that are abso- ntely necessary to the law as it now tands, yet, with all the oblectional features in this bill, we are not pre- pared 10 support 1t in preference to the aw as we have If now. The greatest ucceea we hnyp had in the North was