The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-11
THE SECRET BALLOT VS.. THE I'M
PERATIVE MANDATE.

There is no log: cal connection between
the imperative mandate and direct legls-
lation which renders them necessary ad-
juncts of one another The most active
worker in the United States in the direct
legislation line has written me privately
that he sees no necessity OF the lmpera-
tive mandate, but has no objections TO
offer to it in public because he fears that
to antagonze it may cause antagon1sm TO
direct legislations. I do not see the mat
ter and believe on the contrary that the
mandate would be fatal handicap to the
direct legisltion principle.
Others have urged me to say no more on
the matter: but as an offset I have re-
ceived letters from many of the most earn
est workers. expressing their qualification
that there is one editor of Populist paper
who is not carried off his feet by the rush
after new thing which has not been well
considered And as it is seriously pro-
posed to add to the national platform the
dead weight of an impracticable scheme
for removing men from office, intend to
do my duty in showing wherein 1T IS
faulty
There is a more deadly objection to this
proposed plan, than has yet been pro-
pounded. I offer that objection now. 1t
destroys the efficiency of the secret ballot
The proposition is that voter or number
of voters entertaining objections to pub
lie officer, may circulate petition for MS
removal from Office; and when a major
ity CMr. Eltweed Pomeroy proposes
three-fourths majority of the voters have
signed the petition, the Objectionable per
son is removed from office.
1t IS proverbial that nothing is easier
than procuring the names to petitions.
Nine men out of ten will sign petition
out of sheer weakness or cOmplalsance TO
the person who circulates 1t. Probably
you and l. reader, are the only two men
in our acquaintance who can always be
depended on to risk offending the clrcllla-
tor of a petition by carefully canvassing it
and saving NO. under all circumstances
where we feel the slightest hesitancy.
When the voters go to the polls. the law
throws safeguards around the secrecy OF
the ballot. No one else may see the bal
lot or ask to see it, save in the case of
illiterate persons No one is allowed TO
eleot.oneer for or against any candidate
within a hundred feet Of the polls. No
one can threaten or bride voter to pro-
cure his ballot to be cast in any given
manner.
Now come a fellow with wheels in his
head and says once the officer is elected
he may be removed by petition; which
opens the way to all corrupt methods the
the mt: midaton the persuasion, the OIL
| berry that the secret ballot has circuin
! vented. Openly. in the face OF Heaven
| all the engineery of political parties. Of
| cliuues, of secret societies, may be brought
| to bear upon the weak-kneed voter VINO
1t cp1,fir in tho
c,ecv of his booth where The law portect-
| el him: but who now must say yes" OF
NO" to an open proposition, where mo
NAV mean his social outlawry and finan
cial ruin.
| Let us take an extreme case yet not ar
impossible case. as an illustration. Sup
nose. in d large manufacturing establish
| ment Ike the Homestead or Pullman, Thu
employer finds it to his interest to crcn
late a mandate for the removal of SOM
Populist official The men vo:ed secretly
consequently they voted for this man
Now they must act openly, and keep O
| lose their jobs according to their action
| Nine-teuths Of them would sign the pet.
| ton: for food and clothes for their littl
ones would mean much more to them thai
the continuance in office of any man.
The same principle would apply il
| every community. The servant VIII
| voted secretly, contrary to his employer
wishes. when called upon openly to SCI
mandate or lose job would quickl
| sign. In short, the opportunities for IN
Limitations as we'll as for bribery wonl
become practically useless; and no hon
est man could hold any office. It woul
turn the whole machinery of government
over to corrupt rings N manner and t
an extent at present scarcely conceiya
able.
In opposing the imperative mandate
uphold the secret ballot. The two are in
consistent Once the principle Of remov
ing officials by public petition becomes
recognized part Of our legal machinery
the principle of secret balloting Is de
atroved: and with the downfall of the Sc
cret ballot there is an end to all hope G
ever reforming governments by peacea
Bile methods, and the Independent vote
will cease to exist.
Melvin Snow
Samoa Barbara, Cal.