Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-07
GOVERNOR FLOWERS PRoCLAMA-
TON

ADte-EIectIou Advice Given to the People
of This Commonwealth by the Chief
Magistrate.
ALBANY, N. Y, November Gov
ernor Flower this afternoon issued the
following proclamation to the people Of
the State of New York from the Ex-
ecutive Chamber:
On Tuesday next, November s, the
people of the United States will exer-
else the privilege of American citizen
ship and determine by their votes what
political principles shall, during the
time fixed by the constitution, control
the administration and legislation Of
federal government.
1t is essential to our liberties and to
the fair name of our country that this
expression of popular judgment should
be absolutely untrammelled and hon
est.
When the control Of Office Is secured
by intimidation or corruption and gov
ernmental policy is determined by the
bribery of voters, elections become a
farce and representative government a
sham.
An honest ballot and fair count are
of more importance to the American
people than any political issues raised
in the campaign by any party.
call upon the people Of this State to
see that the election in this common
wealth shall be an honest one. Recent
enactments by the Legislature have i'm
posed almost every possible safeguard
around the sanctity of the ballot. The
honor OF our State and our love for
American institutions demand that
every siti7en should obey these laws
and look TO their enforcement.
The constitution Of the State, In Ar
ticle 2, section 2 and chapter $50 OF the
Laws of 1892 give to every elector indi-
vidually or through watcher at the
polls the right to demand from every
person suspected OF bribing voters or Of
being bribed and offering to vote the
following oath:
"You do swear Tor affirm that you
have not received or offered, do not ex-
pect to receive, have not paid, offered or
promised to pay, contributed, offered or
promised to contribute 10 another, to be
paid or used, any money or other Valu-
able thing as compensation or reward
for the giving or withholding vote at
this election, and have not made any
promise to influence the giving or with
holding Of any such vote; and that you
have not made, or become directly or
indirectly interested in any bet or
wager depending upon the result OF this
election"
That right of challenge, exercised In
diligently and fearlessly, supplies to
every citizen weapon Of defense
against corruption, and will greatly as
sist in frightening dishonest voters from
the polls.
In addition I call upon all election
officers, all district attorneys, all sher-
ifs and peace officers to see that the
laws of the State are rigidly enforced.
to the end that good order may prevail
at the polls and the right OF honest
franchise be sacredly guarded; and |
give warning that all failures on the
part of such public officers to discharge
their full duty in the complete enforce
ment of the laws shall be considered
sufficient cause for their removal.
Done at the Capitol, In the city OF
Albany, this fourth day of November,
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-two.
ROSWELL p. FLOWER.
By the Governor, Il. S. WILLIAMS,
Private Secretary.