Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-12-28

ize the use Of pastors in order TO sub
sttute one name tor another,
On this account considerable misunder-
standing arose at the last election, and
but for the good temper Of all concerned
serious complications might have arisen.
In order to prevent any possibility Of
difficulty in the future, recommend the
passage of an act, which in brief. but
plain terms, shall repeal the numbering
| provisions and allow every citizen to
substitute names on his ticket at his
pleasure and in the manner in which ha
prefers,
ELECTION TRAUDs.
II any mears can be found to make the
laws against illegal yo.ing or frauds in
the counting or returning Of the vote,
more effective, it should be done.
An absolutely pure ballot is the corner
stone of republican institutions. Unle5,
| elections can be so conducted that they
reflect precisely the sentiments and de-
slres OF the people, popular government
Is AT an end, There is no crime 80
wicked in u, inte.;C or so injurious in its
effect as crime against the elective
iianch'se OF free people. Burglary and
arson are felones but they only affect
| property; murder is accounted the high
est OF crimes, but it only DESTROYS tho
life of one individual. But the man who
would falsify the vote of the people,
strikes at the life Of the Republic itself
Free institutions can never be sustained
where the will Of the majority is reversed
through Intimidation or chicanery or
fraud. There is no punishment too
severe for those who would thus endanper
the foundation of their country. Great
dlscrcdlt has been brought upon New
Mexico In the past by Il current belief
that IN some parts Of the territory fla
grant frands had been perpetrated, and
that public opinion was lax as to the
punishment of the offenders.
We need such strong popular sentl
ment on this subject that no man will
dare attempt any fraud on the ballot
box, and that one guilty of such an Of
Tense will have to flee from the Just in
dlgnaton of the people. And we need
laws SO stringent as to afford no loop
hole of escape for the offender. | am
happy to believe that few attempts al
frauds have recently been made but
ask your earnest efforts to place every
safeguard possible on the statute book.
1t has been publicly stated that in some
precincts the inspectors opened the bal
lots presented to them, so as entirely to
destroy their secrecy. and that in others
the polls were closed before the time
fixed by law. If this is true 1t will be
well to prevent repetition of such acts
by direct legislation
THE POLL TAX LAW.
In connection with the sub ject of elec-
tions the law of the last legislature re
quiring the payment of poll tax for
school purposes sixty days before cleo
tlon, as condition Of voting. calls for
attention,
The iect of this law no doubt was
good. The imposition of such poll tax
Is Objectionable and it is proper that
means should be provided for its collec-
tion. But | do not believe that it should
be made condition of the right TO vote
Under our system of universal suffrage
that right Is absolutely fundamental and
should not be abridged except for most
grave cause. Whatever restrictions may
be right pecuniary restriction is ah-
horrent to the American mind. 1t is
practically saying that dollars and not
men shall vote. If the payment OF 81
may be required it is just as legal to
require the payment of 800. If the
principle is once allowed, there is no limit
to the extent to which it can be carried
In my judgment the principle itself is
radically wrong. and in practice it is as
bad theory. In effect the great bulk Of
the tax is paid by political committees or
party candidates, who thereupon hold
kind of mortgage on the vote of the
person for whom the payment is made.
The latter by incurring this obligation
loses his self respect and his indepen-
dence. The system also gives to can
didate or a party that can afford to pay
the most of such taxes an unjust advant-
age which should never be gained or ex-
ercised by the use of money. The ex
perience of single year, has. think,
been sufficient to show to our people that
this law is as pernicious in practice as it
Is wrong in princi pie, and | recommend
early action by the legislature looking to
its repeal.
FINANCES.
The sub iect which greatly transcends
all others in importance, and requires
your best and most careful attention. is
that Of our GDnDoas