The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-16
Where Reform Is areatlv Needed.

Where Reform is Greatly Needed.
A good registration and election law
| Is greatly needed in this state. The
necessity for such law is so imperative
that it should receive the attention of the
state convention of the Democratic party.
A plank should be put into the democratic
platform pledging the party TO enact a
law that would insure not only fair and
honest state elections, but also honest
elections in counties and cities.
The newspapers Of the state could not
do the people greater service than TO
take up this matter and agitate it
earnestly from now until the meet
ing of the state convention. They
should insist upon the nomination
of legislative candidates who are in touch
with the suggested reform, and who will
promise to use their best efforts to enact a
uniform registration and election law that
would make fraud, bribery and other cor
rupt practices virtually impossible, and
that would remove the greater portion of
the burdens which existing registration
and election laws now impose upon the
taxpayers.
1t will hardly be denied that the special
registration and election laws for counties
and cities, now in existence, were enacted
in the interest of individuals or
factions. They are faulty and danger
Gus to good government. The evils
that flow from them are many, and they
are increasing and becoming more trouble
some and annoying to honest voters. In
all parts of the state there are citizens
who stay away from the polls altogether,
because they are disheartened and dis
gusted by the corrupt practices which
are possible for the control of elections.
In many states there is a law for the
permanent registration of each citizen,
and once registered he is entitled to vote
at any election that occurs at his place of
residence. The necessity and expense
for frequent registrations are done
away with. These special laws for
registration in counties and cities
are corruption breeders. There is
always struggle between factions
or individuals for the control of the regis
tration books and the ballot boxes 1t is
well understood why there is.
If reports are to be believed, elections
in some of the counties and cities Of the
state are a farce. The votes of honest
voters count for little, if result different
from what they want is desired by politi-
cal bosses, who control the election
machinery, and often it is not the black
vote that is disfranchised. 1t is the
white vote-it is nullifed by the pur-
chased black vote
The lowered standard in the legisla-
lures of many of the states is due largely
to the fact that men of ability and charac-
ter who would be willing to serve the
state, will not be parties to the
practices that are necessary to secure
an election, nor will they become the
tools of those who manage the elections.
Rather than sacrifice their self respect
they keep out of politics They are the
kind Of men who are needed to make the
laws
Let the newspapers of Georgia take
hold OF this subject and make the people
appreciate it. Let US have a good regis
tration and election law here in Georgia,
as provided for in the constitution of 1877.
Let us do what we can to put the ballot
box upon higher plane in elections of
every character