San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-11-28
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying.

No offence committed against the
good OF society 10 so henious in it's
character as the violation Of our elec-
tion laws, for the reason that In the
purity of the ballot rests the safety
and perpetuity of U institutions, the
freedom and happiness of all the
people.
The man that burns a house or
steals q horse Injuries the individuals;
the man that steals q ballot or prosti-
tutes the law to prevent a fair TX
preston of the voter, Injuries the en-
tire community. and drags it down to
the level of anarchy.
The happiness. virtue aud prospect
ty of the community are all endangered
when our election laws are trampled
under foot and destroyed by ar ogant
unprincipled officials whose sworn
duty is to enforce these laws.
The loose election methods that
have prevailed in cur city in the past
have become q scandal. Respectable
citizens avoid participation In public
affairs because to do SO levels them to
the dirt of corruption and fraud.
No wonder our public business has
fallen into disrepute, and our public
offices stink with rottenness, when
the men who fill the offices have Sc
cured their election by corrupt and
high-haDded methods In defiance OF
law and decency.
The new election law proved q fail
ure because of the we'll laid plans of;
those having its execution in handn
1t vas made the instrument of oped
fraud; its provisions set aside, an
the people forced to submit, TO the
outrage.
The election Judges were chosen
with the direct purpose of carrying
secure fairness and equal representa-
ton were either disregarded or met
with open opposition.
Every preesution provided in the
law to protect the secrecy of the ball
lot and the undue influence OF cleo.
%tioneerng within the prescribed
limits of the polls, was over-ridden.
AS usual, it was understood that no
n would complain or make any"ef.
fort to bring the o TENDERS to justice,
but it seems some one has complaintd
and the Federal grand jury
has found indictments against
some OF the election judges. The
complaints seem trivial when pub
lished but if the conduct OF the cleo
ton in q majority OF the precincts was
thoroughly overhsuled the investi-
CATION would develope a scsndalous
violation of the election laws:
\
The lev law Is glaringIy defective,
but its enforcement made it an out
rage. In some of the polls the judges
openly electIoneered and openly did
the voting while the voting cattle
were driven like sheep through q
gate into the pen.
The new law is a step in the right
direction, and If enforced would work
well; the old law was an open bid for
illegal voting, and afforded no pro-
lection against fraud. The registra.
ton of voters If properly made would
weed out all illegal voters, and pre-
vent repeating.
Our city election approaches, and
our good citizens should determine to
secure an honest vote and q fair
count. No use to talk about reform
unless our elections are conducted
and in accordance with law.
Party organization, and consistent
political action Is needed to begin
with. The attempt to harmonic all
elements under some catchy name
has proven q failure.
Let the democrats put out a straight
ticket and the republicans do the
thing. Compel the enforce
ment of every requirement of the
insuring honesty and fairness,
then the result will come nearer re-
t1ecting the will of the majority.
Party nominations do not necessari-
Iy bind the will of the voter, but it
helps to bind the provisions of the
law that only recognizes the demands
of political parties in the selection of
officers.
II. q political party fails to put for
ward worthy men it will pay the
penalty of defeat at the hands of the
good citizens.
POI ITTraI SCpaDa |