The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-28
FREE NOMINATIONS.

FREE NOMINATIONS.
One of the intended effects of the new
secret ballot law is now manifest-the
nomination by electors without the aid
of conventions. Under this provision of
the law any citizen who desires TO become
candidate for any office may have his
name placed upon the official ballot on
complying with the provisions of the
law.
What these are the RECORD UNION this
morning sets forth in its local columns
We there present form of the certificate
of nomination required by the law This
form has been prepared with great care,
and is believed to embrace every affirm
alive fact essential to be set forth. It is
published in response to many inquiries
for advice as to what is necessary. There
is no intricacy about it. 1t is a simple
proceeding and easily comprehended.
Under the provision of the law, one of
its chief virtues, the poorest man in the
land may freely exercise his sovereign
right to solicit the votes of his fellow
citizens for any Office. It is one of the
vital principles of free government that
each qualified citizen shall have this
right, and in no way be debarred its ex-
ercise. The greater the freedom of the
citizen in this respect, the more secure
are free institutions. For time, large
numbers, for mere lust ofoffice, will avail
OF this new method; but in time citizens
will exercise greater discretion in sign
Ing certificates, and manifest more cour-
age in refusing to indorse the ambitions
of office-seekers.
The effect of the new law will be also
to bring conventions to higher level;
they viii treat the claims of candidates
with more consideration, knowing that
the road is open without toll to any small
group Of citizens to put independent can
didates cheek by iowl upon the official
blanket ballot with those of the conven-
tons. The bosses viii not, as heretofore.
snap their fingers in the faces of would
be nominees, but will become exceed
ingly circumspect IN their procedure 1t
will be no longer necessary for the citi-
zen who wishes to apply the test of the
ballot to ascertain how he stands with his
tellow-citizens as a candidate to buy the
boss influence, manipulate the caucus,
run the primary, or capture the conven-
ton: nor will he be forced to large ex-
penditure of his means to print ballots
and prepare the way to the ballot-box.
However viewed. the new provision of
the election law is benefcent, since it
puts the bosses and conventions upon
good behavior, and gives the forgotten
man an even chance with the nominee of
party. All the advantage the latter will
now have will be the party strength
growing out of organization and the 10y
atty Of party followers, and it is all that
he ought TO have. Heretofore he has en-
Joyed the greater advantage over the in
dependent candidate of the heavy cost to
the latter for preparation of tickets and
their distribution, which was in nearly
all cases as great as the entire cost of a
convention ticket divided among all the
nominees.
In short, the new law is essentially one
of fair play. 1t does not permit poverty
to bar the ambition of any man; it places
the poor candidate upon a level with the
rich; it relieves the dissatisfied elector
from tho nacacr;+yy of 1,o+;,,r. g.. -. - Q
two or three equally Objectionable con-
vention candidates; it gives every little
group of citizens that chooses to step
from under the party lash and leadership
a full license to present its own candi-
date. 1t frees conventions very largely
from boss domination and will make
them more representative and induce
citizens to enter them who baye hitherto
refrained from doing so.
The new system will have tendency
to give all men political equality before
the law; to insure not only free elections,
but free nominations, also; to secure an
accurate and honest expression of opin-
ion as to the fitness of candidates; to en-
courage fit and competent men to take on
official duty and serve their communi-
ties, who have heretofore declined to sub
NIT their names to the manipulation of
machine methods.
As Mr.. WINS has it in his treatment of
the subject, with the official ballot and
the free nomination we may have cleo
tons that are such in true sense, for
without them when we vote we simply
register our choice as between two or
three men who have already been elected
by machinery unknown to the law, the
personal property of the few, and in
which the many have no right which
they can enforce.
\ LESSON FOR CALIFORNIA.
An incident happened at Cincinnati on
the Goth inst. that has in it lesson for