St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-11-21
THE NEW ELECTION Law.

00VC won great UlplOuaIiC VICIOIy.
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.
The fullest possible discussion is
Of the new election law,
which Louisiana tried the other day
for the first time. It Was an ex-
pertinent, . novelty in the State,
and it was not expected to prove a
success on the FIRST trial,
but only . move in the right direc-
ton. The experience Of other
States is that an election law based
on the principles Of the Australian
ballot shows some fear OF defeat at
first. and that the Legislature is
called on for . number Of amend
ments to put it in good working
order. We were prepared for this,
and are, therefore, glad to hear
from any Of our subscribers as TO
defects that were made patent in
tue law at the late election.
We published the other day a
complaint from q correspondent in
White Castle { Iberville parish) to
the effect that nothing was done
there to maintain the secrecy Of the
ballot, one of the first aims of the
Law, but that voters were compelled
to stamp their ballots in the pres
ence Of any one who cared to look
on. This fault, however, was not
in the law, but in its administration.
We publish elsewhere . letter
from Mr.. James Wilkinson, in
which he objects to several Of the
provisions Of the law and the inter
pretations placed upon it; and, also,
an interview with Attorney General
Cunningham. In which he replies to
Mr.. Wilkinson's objections.
Mr.. Wilkinson raises these chief
points:
l. That the law is oppressive in
requiring each party or faction in
New Orleans to submit six names
to each precinct or poll.
2. That the law opens the door ID
fraud by allowing the supervisor in
the country parishes to select con-
missioners to represent the opposite
party. instead of allowing the
leaders of that party, or party or
ganization, to do SO.
8. That the law as carried out IN
the parishes nullifies the benefit &C
curing from the presence Of
"watchers" at the polls by keeping
them so far removed that it is i'm
possible for them to see the ballots
They would never be able to tel
even il the commissioners mis-
called every ballot.
We do not think Mr.. Wilkins0n'f
first objection is = good one; bu'
the other two deserve serious con
sideration. 1t is true that it re-
quires each party in New Orlean'
to present the names Of 1928 com
missioners, but the party winch bA'
not tina: many voters, which canno
boast of six supporters 10 each pre-
cinct, had better keep out Of poll
tics : it has no show in . city Will
. voting strength Of 63, 900.
Mr.. Wilkinson is right, howeye:
in insisting that the commissioned
Of election should be selected in th'
same way io the parishes as in New
Orleans, from . list Of names fur
nished by the party leaders or or
ganization. We noted tue differ
ence At the time the law was passed
aud we're never able 10 understand
why the country should be different
~ treated from New Orleans. Mr.
Cunningham does not want the com
missioners selected b. the part,
leaders or party organizations, o.
the ground that they would selec
extreme paltisans, but suggests
instead, that they furnish list o.
names, say three for each precinct
from which tue supervisor could se
lect the commissioner from that dis
trict. The latter plaU is certAioI
preferable, The prsseut system
which authorizes . Democratic OH
Ger to selec: the Republican CON
missioner, without consulting tn
Republicans, is manifestly unfair
Experience has frequently sho~l
us that the commissioner 90 selected
i generally Republican for thu
election, one Who has taken th'
name in order - quality him for tn
position Ut supervisor. The tricl
has been played % often that NJ
Wilkinson is right in object,ng 70 il
We believe that the Repablicai
party 10 better qualified to choos
| it, representative 1t the polls thu