The Opelousas courier., 1894-05-12
The Election Law.
N. o. Times-D Democrat.

N. y. Iimes-Democrat.
We have received a copy OF the cleo
ton law prepared by the Ballot Reform
League for submission to the Leglsla-
ture at the coming session. 1t proposes
the adoption Of the Australian baliot
system, which is in much favor JUST
now and in operation in a majority OIL
the States. There are, however, many
varieties of Australian ballot laws
from the nj in Massachusetts, when
is supposed to be nearest to n prlncl-
ple Of the system, to that of New York,
which is merely a mockery Of it. The
law suggested by the Ballot Reform
League ia much nearer the Massachu-
setts than the New York law, and,
theoretically, would give us nearly
ideal elections if accompanied by a
good and efficient restriction system.
The proposed bill is very lengthy, pear
" twice as long as the election laW now
in force, and is most far-reachlng, going
into every point and providing Tor
In an interview yesterday DR.. Bruins,
who has given the sabject OF elections
much attention, explained the bill at
length. The chief virtue OF the Aus
tralian system is that 1T preserves the
absolute secrecy OF the ballot, n thns
prevents intimidation, bribery or tam
pering with voters; that it places the
nomination Of candidates beyond the
reach of cliques or bosses ; That 1t al
lows the nomination and election or a
candidate without great expense TO
him and the levying of a heavy cam
paign tax and that it gives the people,
and not the ward bosses or heelers, a
chance to say who their officers shall be.
The present election law OF Loulsl-
ana is one of the worst in the country.
It encourages fraud, Overturns the pop
ular will, and has caused such dissatls-
faction that it mas only been by the
patience and self-restraint of the peo-
Die that civil war has been prevented.
1t has been threatened more han once,
and the voters, with practical unanmity,
have denounced the law. 1t was never
intended as a permanency. but only TO
bridge over a temporary difficulty. LIS
repeal has long since been demande
and it would have been repealed before
but for the extreme bitterness nltherto
prevailing between the several factions
in Louisiana, which made each OF them
suspicious and disposed to oppose any
election law offered as giving advan-
tage to the other fiction. Now that
there are fewer disturbing elements in
.her wy y nn araat nnestion which can
aauso I;1;s;on ia tha time to consider
on Election law. We know Of no better
time to mass II. 40 that the next State
aIact;on can he conducted nnder it, and
liz d%;ficmit;as Confusion and danger
;nc;dant to tha Last election prevented.
The election law. we need scarcely
avnia;n 10 ant;raiv senarate and dis
t;nct from the Amendment which the
G%nnstitntionn Commission has recon-
mandad in reoari to the electoral fran
chisa. The Two. however. will 90 we'll
n hand. "a thay did in Mississippi. If
~. - n ahan a. !; .n 100 IN the Qualifications
Far Voters, eating rid of the ignorant,
;iI;tarete and hoodlnm element Of
nntars The Australian ballot viii be q
nocosS;tv Rnt IVA dn not want TO wait
mill than. The constitutional amend
ment cannot 90 into operation for a
Stafa eIection until 1900. whereas we
want an election law at once, under
which We can go to the polls in 1896,
confident that fhe neonle can decide the
raanlt and that the vote will be counted
a. cast
m. Rrnns declares that no section of
fba h,iI can III iaft ont without either
imnairine the secrecy Of the ballot or
resfrictinp the freedom Of the people in
MAKING n0minaticns. While we should
Ia clad Ia see tie law adopted, we can
NOT Int think that the Ballot Reform
T,ea will he lncky to GET it through
withont amendment. Ii ia always a DIFF
f;cnif matter ia make changes In an
election law. and particularly such radi-
raj chanees as those proposed by the
T.aacne. Moreover. ii must be remem-
hared that the CITY delegation, as a
whole. cannot be regarded as friendly
Ia 4 system the aim Of which is to do
haaiars IA whom 40 MANY Of them owe
u .hs; | ns.. ~ MIL T ~ fr;ands If this law,
tharafnre NAV link far sarious opno-
s;t;or n The I.ao;slatnra If thew wish
81 carry II thew must exert themselves
- secnre hackinr 4 III in the General
naeemhiv' FIR II will need ain the
fr;ends II can oat there.
nna ~ IN mnat imnnrtant nrovisions
Il ~ course that in regard to the an
ro;ntment III tha cnmmissioners Of cleo
t;on TIA men nndar whnm the voting il
aanrat.d ona TIA ~cnnnt;nr dnna Tha
Iii ranar od ~ ia Rallnt Reform
I |, r;uas fha annn;ntmant ~ the
1919 "a c;v;I sbariH IL tha narish
sf0I n.iaans Mh;Ia this svs1em does
- - 81. lor ~ ara Anstraiia and has
49, ~ ndonea5 ~ Massachnsatta we are
aas;saoI fbot il i .o,1;s;ana ! halter Man
1919 20 sIhas =nroncsaa 10 many ~ the
sn,nt-n :, ma,nbar ana wb;ch vii dnnht-
I 49,. ~ ,.orta .SSl;S Il, tha Mi Nv thamNtha
s anr~n ~ I. 80 ~ tia ccm myss;onar IF
aiact;nn NJ the noiica inries. The sher-
candlaaIes Ior r~e-eleetion ana, mere
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