The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-01-09

not to rely solely upon party QeSlSna-
ton. 1t has been urged by some as an
objection to the form of our ballot
that IL is i'm effect the establishment
of an educational test for voting. / do
not regard this as a very serious OBJ
lection. The voter has become accus-
toned to this form of ballot and any
marked change in the general form. in
my opinion, is entirely unnecessary and
would serve no good purpose.
Other objections. however, and more
substantial. which l regard more the
result of abuses than of the law itself.
and which can be remedied by proper
amendments. AS an instance. William
]. Bryan was nominated by the demo-
cratic party for the presidency. After
ward he was also nominated by the
peoples party for president. A conven-
ton of dissatisfied democrats met later
and. styling themselves National dem
ocrats,' nominated John NJ. Palmer for
president. The candidates placed in
nomination by the Palmer wing for
electors. as well as for state Offices, were
denominated on the official ballot in
Nebraska as democrats" with no
means of distinguishing them from the
regular democratic nominees. The re-
suit of such n course was necessarily
the deception of many voters. / would
respectfully recommend that such
amendments be made to the law as
would prevent the use of the PARTY des-
ignation by "bclting" factions for the
purpose of deceiving voters. The reg
ular party nominees only should appear
on the official ballot with the designa-
ton of the party which nominated
them. Where one candidate has been
nominated by more than one political
party the party designations should be
so arranged as to permit the elector to
express by his vote his party preference
as well as his preference for the can
didate. Protection should be secured
to the voter who unacquainted with
the names of all the nominees on the
ticket, is Gesirous of casting his ballot
for the nominees of the party he es-
pouses.
L would also suggest that each party
having fair proportion of the electors
in the state be given presentation on
the precinct election boards. and that
10 more than two members of any one
political organization be made judges
In any election precinct. The repre-
sentatives of no one political organiza-
ton should have entire control of any
election booth, and, where competent
men representing different political
parties can be secured. the result must
be more satisfactory to all concerned.
L believe this matter might be salts
factorily arrargsd by vesting the power
or naming the judges and clerks of
election in the county clerks or boards
OF county commissioners (and the may
ors of cities of the first and second
restricting them to a choice
from lists furnished by the chairman
OF the county Cor city, committees of
the various political parties. Proyis-
ion could be made allowing at least one
representative on the election board to
each political party receiving a certain
per cent or more of the votes cast at
the last general election held in the
state, and providing that, in no event,
should any enc party have to exceed
two judges and one clerk on any election
board.
In order to secure a free and untram-
melted ballot for every elector steps
should be taken to prevent coercion. in
and undue influence on the
part of the employers. Every citizen.
may be his station in life.
should have every protection thrown
around him in the exercise of his citi-
Other state have seen fit to en-
act very stringent legislation to prevent
undue influence on the voter by his en-
pioyer. As an instance, the laws of In
diana provide that whoever. for the
purpose of influencing a voter. threat
ms to enforce the payment of q debt. to
njure the business or trade of an cleo
tor, or. If an employer threaten to with
hold wages or to dismiss from service
any iaborer in his employment or re-
uses to allow employees time to attend
20 the place of election and vote. shall
be fined not more than $1,000 or less
kn