River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-11

paid or owing, incurred either in their
nomination or election.
IL impose "a penalty for the failure
Ito make such "A statement, or wlliuIly
to make it falsely.
1t prevents a person from entering
upon the duties OF the Office TO which
he has been elected and of receiving
the salary of such Office until such
statement shall have been duly made
and fled
II provides due and sufficient pro-
.ceedings. means and regulations to ex-
clude from office, any one guilty On cor
rupt or Illegal practices.
IL defines the duty of the attorney
general and the district attorneys in
the Enforcement OF the provisions of
the law. Ii authorizes private prose-
cutions in certain cases for the purpose
of allowing an individual who believes
his rights wrongfully interfered with.
and for whom the public attorney shall
refuse to bring an action. himself to
take the matter into court upon 1ur-
nishing a sufficient bond to guarantee
Icosts.
II provides That actions to test the
validity o. an election shall have pref
ference ana precedence on the docket
whatsoever. in order that no delay
may avail to defeat the purposes of the
law or wrongfuny interfere with the
rights of candidates of officers-elect
1t provides suitably for the nature of
he judgment to be entered by the
courts OF the state as result Of a trial
relating to nominations or elections
1t provides that when q person who
would othei wise as the result of an cleo
ton be entitled to an office. shall have
been found guilty of corrupt practices,
the Office shall be awarded to the per-
son in such election having the next
highest number of votes. if he be him
self free from misconduct
1t defines the political committee.
and what is meant by the agents" of
person seeking nomination or cleo
ton, so as To bring such committees
or agents within the law. IL provides
that political committees shall appoint
a treasurer to receive and disburse all
campaign funds; that such treasurer
shall keep account books and shall be
required TO file sworn statement of
election expenses II requires that
such accounts OF election expenses
shall be open TO public Inspection and
that duly certified copies shall be filed
win specimen anu htDl dS pun
lie records
Ii provides penalties for the ia lure
of the treasurer of a political commit
tee to file the required accounting Of
the disbursements of such committee.
II provides such other details as are
reasonably necessary and are usual in
connection with similar laws, fully to
secure their enforcement, and make
election proceedings so clear that no
well intentioned person will have ex-
cuse for violating the law.
Why should any one oppose such
measure?
Are those who conduct our political
campaigns so superior to other men
that they can be trusted in a pubic
matter to raise am disburse funds Sc
cretly, with no limit, restraint, super
vision of accounting, while of every
other agent a strict account is re-
quired?
Is there any reason why Wisconsin
should lag behind her neghbors. Mich
igan on the east and Minnesota on the
west, which have adopted these benefi-
cent reforms?
Will not her people welcome such
legislation exactly as they have wei
coined the Australian Ballot Law?
Will it nol tend TO place good men
on an equality before the electors.
making character and ABILITY, and not
possessions. the chief qualification for
a candidate?
is there any reason why a small per-
centage of corrupt voters and bribers
should be left the opportunity to sway
the elections, and often faint and con-
troll the result, where thousands of
honest votes are cast?
is there any reason which is credit
able to them, which induces our rep
resentatives to refuse to limit elecllon
expenses and to make them public?
If the sales of army commissions, of
justice, and public appointments. of
old so universal, have been done away
with, ought not the love of integrity
and fair play now do away with the
purchase of elections?
If, as is urged by some officials there
is no undue use of money in Wiscon-
sin elections. why are these same off
cials so singularly opposed to any law
compelling a verified statement Of such
expenses? If the disbursements are
honest and reasonable there is no harm
in reporting them.
IF THE PURPOSES OF THE
IsODICOTNN pIII hpI ADDnuIyn