The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

. CoaAa dIu dOlo SLdLO uOCullleuL
Astounding in recommendations, which
it voted on and put in the form OF laws
will result in material benefit to Mon
tana.
One OF the most important subjects il
that relating to the passage OF laws
which he deems necessary for holding
elections in the fall OF 1892. Unless
something is done in that direction the
governor sees grave danger of a failure
to select successors to The present state
officers, and also that Montana may be
deprived Of an opportunity to cast hel
vote for president. AS no provision is
made for the present state officers hold
ing over until their successors are elect
ed and qualified, and as the presidential
election of 1892 will be the first Of this
kind since Montana became a state, the
Importance OF this matter cannot be
overestimated.
In the matter OF registration and cleo
tions the governor has something to say
that all fair-minded people will admit is
intended to benefit citizens OF the state
irrespective OF party, and which none
but those %perversely blind can claim is
dictated by any political bias. After
pointing out the difficulties which beset
the path of those desiring to register
under the present law, he proposes a
remedy which should receive the care
ful attention OF the legislature. No
registration in sparsely settled COM
munities would relieve voters of the ne
cessity Of twice making a trip of from
twenty to n hundred miles. The per-
lection Of a system whereby this might
be done without throwing the election
franchise open to abuses will require
a r and foresight, but it's enact
ment would save heavy expense and
much valuable time to thousands of
people whose calling keeps them far re-
moved from the centres Of population.
The governor also thinks it is ian undue
burden on the citizen to register every
time there is a general election" and
suggests that n registration in six
years would suffice. But the governor
strikes the keynote when he points out
how much easier it is for a dishonest
man to register under the present law
than it is for an honest man. A man
who says he is a native born citizen has
only to make oath to the fact. One who
was born abroad, but has taken all the
steps necessary to make him n citizen,
must produce his certificate of natural
%ization, or be sustained by witnesses to
the fact that he has passed through the
prescribed process. The natural in
ference in the case of a foreign born
citizen applying to be registered il that
if he was disposed to be dishonest he
would take the easier course-that OF
claiming to be native born. Yet the
very fact that he shows a tendency to-
ward honesty is made the excuse for
putting him to great trouble and ex-
pense in case his papers have become
mislaid. His oath is not taken, while
that OF a man claiming to be a native
born citizen is. This is a discri1nina-
ton which the governor thinks might
upset the law il a test were made. He
quotes a decision of the Michigan SUI
preme court in support Of that view.
h is an important matter and should
be carefully considered.
While approving the general princi-
pies of the Australian ballot law, the
governor suggests some notifications
that would not affect the benefits con
ferred by the system, but which would
remove what is equivalent to an educa-
tional qualification. These changes
contemplate printing the names OF
party candidates on separate ballots,
or il on the same ballot it is suggested
that they might be arranged in separate
columns. This would remove the temp
tation Oh the part OF judges of election
to take undue political advantage of
voters not thoroughly posted on the
tanner OF marking their ballots. That
the governor is not in the least antag-
onistic to the principles of the law is
evidenced by his prediction that they
will ave be abandoned until the state
is ready to give up its sovereignty. This
effectually disposes OF the suggestion
which has been thrown out in some
quarters that the democratic party is
opposed to the Australian ballot sys-
tenn, and would change back to the old
plan il it were possible. The governor
undoubtedly echoes the sentiment of
the party of the people when he ap-
proves OF an honest election law with
the simplest, and at the same time
safest, machinery.
The governor strikes a popular chord,
not only Montana, but throughout
the country, in pronouncing the recent
federal census "a complete and elabor-
ate failure The unfortunate part of
the business, as the governor points out,
is that the apportionment of representa-
tives is to be determined on the figures
made up by the VIGOROUSLY defective
count conducted by Superintendent
Porter.
\ subject of general interest to Mon
tana is that relating to tie selection and
appropriation of lands granted the state
by the federal government. While this
matter is held in allegiance the valuable