The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1892-09-21

LSLSs VI VNSh u SibIli uuLiutI- Ii
it does, 1t has Ii" sympathy of mine.
Is - III Inient Is TO protect the bal
lot from spurious tickets. 1t may
not be the best method obtainable,
but it is, confessedly, the best that
has been suggested in this state, as
none that would stand the slightest |
examination has yet been proposed
to take its place.
Our republican friends are stop
ped from criticizing as they them
selves have enacted the provisions
into law i'll quite number Of states
| have taken the pains to examine
these laws carefully, aud find them
all to contain similar restrictions.
The Illinois law has 2 per cent
clause, and requires not less than L.,
900 voters on petition for candi
dates. The Iowa law has 2 per
cent clause, and requires not less
than 500 petitioners. The Ohio law
has per cent clause, but for state
petitions it requires l per cent i'll
number of the entire vote cast in the
state at the next proceeding general
election. Such a provision as that
would necessitate in Missouri this
year for the prohibitionists 1 643
petitioners, yet the republicans of
this state are not denouncing Ohio
as being engaged in an effort to pre-
vent the suffrage. The Massachu
setts law has 3 per cent clause, land
requires not less than 1000 petition
ers; and the Pennsylvania law has
3 per cent clause, and requires petit
tioners to the number of lone half
of l per centum of the largest vote
for any officer elected in the state at
the last proceeding election at which
state officer was voted for" APP
Piled to this state. this year, such a
law would demand of you 1880 Pc
titioners. The Vermont law has a
l per cent clause but also requires l
per cent of the entire vote to be sign
ed to petitions.
INTENT OF THE MEASURE.
| might cite the law II other states
but the tendency of Legislation is all
one way, the greatest latitude being
given by the law in Arkansas, which
has recently been so roundly abus-
ed by the third party people. In
that state petition is acceptable
which contains anywhere between
so and 1000 signatures. The pur
pose of these laws is not evil; it is
not to disfranchise honest voters. it
is not to sti1e the expression Of any
intelligent or honorable purpose, it
is not even to judge of what is in
telligent or honorable. so long as
any fairly considerable body of men
shall desire to record their views
upon it at the ballot box, but is de
signed to reform evils long complain
ed of in connection with our electo-
raj systems. 1t is to protect parti-
sans from being heeced by dishon-
est committees ostensibly for the
purchase of ballots. It is to protect
the voter from imposition by ballot
peddlers at the polls. 1t is to Sc
cure real privacy of the ballot in
preparation and after it is cast, thus
preventing intimidation of the weak
by the strong, and largely eliminat-
ing the purchase of votes, since the
deposit of the ballot in pursuance
thereof cannot be followed up and
seen The law has the support OF
the vast majority of the good, pat
riotic citizens of the republic, re
gardless of party affiliations 1t has
the opposition of corrupt, trading
bull doing politicians. Suppose il
does incur some labor and expenses
Do not the benefits derived more thar
compensate for these! Are he
carp and cavil at doing little worl
to secure petitioners or at expend
ing few dollars for notary fees
which are absolutely necessary t.
prevent fraud, friendly to the effor
to purify the ballot, or are they no
rather arraying themselves on th
: side of those who would like . dis
credit the law and tear it out of th,
i, statute beck!
l I understand the reply, but is no
:, this the practical effect, and doe
not the corrupt element smile ans
applaud at every attack which weak
J ems the law? Would it not be bet
ter for honest men of all parties t.
make sacrifices if necessary in orde
! q uphold it, The most honorabl
, and pure patty name imasinabl
:, might be used as a cloak for fraudu
= leut purposes. hence the care Of tn
y law to see that the ballo. is 40
made as big as barn door witt
spurious tlchets, concocted to dis
credit the system aud confuse tn
" voter.
PR0HIBITIONIsTs RECOGNIZED.
+ Constituting the law as 1 do, tha
!. all of the 1000 names, or any pc,
: ton of them that may be convenien