San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-03-28
SHORT sToPs.
What the People are Saying.

what the Feople are saying.
The developments in the contested cleo
ton cases now penang in Judge NOoDan'S
court has awakened public attention to
the fact that our local elections have been
in the past series of frauds upon the
right Of franchise and honest elections.
This is the first real contest that has
come 10 an investigation in the history OF
our city; it being the rule that after an
election, no matter how fragrant the
abuses all parties submitted TO the an
nOunced result.
Under the old method there was no dis
guise of the frauds openly practiced; re-
peating was common; the ignorant voter
was pushed TO the ballot box by election
eererS, tickets showed into their hands
and made 10 vote as they had been paid
VOTE There was no secrecy 10 the ballot,
and the good citizen came TO the ballot.
box with his ballot in his vest pocket, and
tried in vain to protect the secrecy or his
vote, from the prying eyes and questions
of the mob that crowded the polling
places.
The use OF money TO purchase voters be-
came ia part of every election, ard the
candidate who attempts 10 run for an OIL
flee stood little chance, no matter how
worthy of being placed on ticket or Sc
curing an election. if he did not subscribe
literally TO the SluSh fund, and then ii be-
came question of the man with the
most money TO them.
The result Of all this was that office
seeking became restricted to the official
rings. and political parties even disap-
peared in the contests for local positions.
The adoption of the Australian ballot
system, with registration OF voters, prom
iSed to correct many of the abuses that
had become shame and scandal TO our
elective franchise.
The first trial of the new law was had
at our last state and county election;
friends of the new law exerted themselves
to get the people acquainted with the
new method of voting. but these efforts
were in every way discouraged, and even
intelligent voters neglected to post
themselves. 1t became apparent
that the ringsters in office
were preparing to nulify the precautions
OF the law, by arranging to vote the il
literate voters SOlidly their way; TO do
this it was necessary to secure the cleo
tion boards, so as to run the election their
way.
The form of tickets to be used was con-
tended over until few hours before the
election, thus keeping the voters in ig
norance; the judges of election were all
chosen to carry out the program and the
representation of the opposing political
parties was ignored.
The judges conducted the election in a
reckless way: and there is no doubt now,
hnt that fhnir 6plihpratp and
defiant of the plain provisions OF the law
They depended upon the success Of the
ticket they represented and the usual
immunity from disclosure and punish
ment.
Even in the ordinary details common to
all election laws, they were reckless in
making their reports, and conducting the
election.
The law is as simple and plain as the
old law. 1t was to be expected that the
first trial could develop mistakes in max
ing out ballots by voters who had not
posted themselves.
On the other hand, the ballots Of Hitter
ate voters were so made out by the judges
as to be strictly correct. The question
arises. how does it come that the judges,
who could vote illiterate voters so
straight, were unable to carry out the
other features Of the law
The new election law Is a step in the d.
rection of reform--an effort TO break up
outrageous abuses that had grown up
with time. and become fixed by custom,
until every good citizen despalred Of re.
lief.
The cases before Judge NOOnan'S court
will bring to light abuses that justify tn,
restrictions of The new law ana instead of
condemning it as a measure to protect the
ballot box. suggest that if anything it
should be amended so as to put stop to
fraud and to careless. corrupt manage
ment by those entrusted with the enforce
ment of the law To return to the cd
methods would be only to restore all the
abuses of the past. and to shield the
wrong doors from accountability.
a new era has dawned upon our ballot
box and every good citizen should come
to the rescue, and determine to acQuaint
himself with the election law.