The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-26

1t is thoroughly well known here that
scheme of the unprincipled in politics
is, at the November election, to "beat"
the law by working the ''iIliterate"
dodge for all and a good deal more than,
it is worth. We have it upon undoubted
authority that the plan is in every pre-
cinct to vote men as illiterates to the full
est possibility. The purchased voters are
to be instructed to take the oath that they
are unable to read or mark the ballot,
and to ask for certain member of the
Board of Election to enter the booth and
assist the elector in marking his ballot.
This certain person is, of course, to be
the chosen man of the tricksters, and for
whose appointment they will sacrifice
all other election officers.
The schemers take the position, and
will so instruct their tools, that perjury
cannot be charged against them in this
matter. But in this they will discover
their error. 1t will not be difficult to
keep list of the illiterates and test the
truthfulness of their oaths. This list
should be kept SO openly and conspicu-
ously that every rascal who offers to take
false oath before the election officials
will know that record is being kept of
his villainy. The statement is made
that the manipulators, by this "illit-
crate" dodge, expect to handle votes
enough to decide the contests for a
good many of the positions which
are to be filed. One form of the outrage
upon the law is that of rushing the voter
claiming to be illiterate into the ballot
booth without his being SO sworn. This
was done at a recent election in this city;
purchased man would walk up to the
election bench and declare in low tones
his inability to read or to use his hands,
and fixed" member Of the board
would instantly rush him into private
compartment without an oath being adj
ministered, or else after it was done in so
slovenly a manner that no one could
establish the premises upon which to
base charge of perjury.
All that must now be looked after. No
law will make dishonest men honest
voters, but watchfulness and courage can
check great deal of rascality, and under
the law secure convictions. The scheme
contemplates, of course, the placing upon
each Election Board at least one man
who will be privy to the whole thing.
This the manipulators declare that they
can accomplish in this city. But with
knowledge that the attempt is to be made
possibly friends of fair play may be able
10 upset most of these attempts.
Ifthe presiding election officer in each
precinct can be secured to the cause of
law and decency the schemers will find
their plans to work i'll; the law requires
that the oath must be taken before the
presiding officer" and no other can
administer it. If he is a fair man he will
permit no rushing of the elector by him,
nor any mumbling of the oath, but will
lay the ground work in every case for
discovery of perjury.
The law gives to the illiterate voter the
right to select one of the election officers
to assist him in marking his ballot. Sec
ton ,142 describes the Election Board as
composed of judges and inspectors, and
Section 1902 adds the ballot clerks, but
no others. This excludes the tally and
poll list clerks, from whom the 'aids''
have been frequently chosen in the past,
and who are liable to be changed by resig-
nation and other causes, leaving it in the
power of the board to choose substitutes.
The precincts are now so small and the
voters to each so few that it will not be
difficult for friends of fair play TO canvass
the whole precinct registration and ascer-
tain just who there is who can honestly
take the illiterate's oath. This, if re-
solved upon and done with some public
ity in each precinct by few resolute
men who honor the law and want to see
the integrity of the ballot-box preserved,