The Forrest City times., 1897-01-22


 ternative of losing either the situation or his manhood. And it is equally use- less to refer to the law which is de- i signed
 l To Protect the Employe by punishing the employer who uses threats, intimidations, coercion or oth- CT Improper means to influence his vote. Experience has well demonstrat- ed the fact that such laws are inef- Iectual to accomplish the purpose in- | tended. There can be nothing worse in legislation than a law which com peis law-abiding man to conform his i conduct to given line of action and. at the same time can be easily yiolat- ed with impunity by all w-breakers. i l, therefore, recommend that you sub mt to the people an amendment to the constitution, revoking the section to ! which l have referred and providing Tor absolute secrecy of the ballot.
 l recommend further that the law be anlehued Ill regard to the manner of Voting by illiterate Electors
 While every qualified elector is enti- ! tied to cast his vote according to his own will, yet he is not entitled to cast It according to the will of another per son merely, and the law should be so amended that he cannot thus prosti- ute the elective franchise. To that end the law should provide that two or the judges, of opposite politics. | shall prepare the ballot for electors who cannot read or write. or who. bv reason of physical dlsa bility. are m i able to mark the ballot; but that. in do- ing this, the elector himself shall name each person for whom he wishes to vote, and the office to which he wishes each person named by him elected: and that one of the judges. in the presence of the elector and of the other judge, shall make out the ballor strictly in accordance with the will of 1 the elector as thus by him expressed. and not otherwise. And the judges should be prohibited, under severe pen alties, from making any suggestions to the elector in regard to his ballot. or giving him any information whatever in relation to the candidates for office. or having any conversation whatever with him in the polling room other than to ask him to name each person for whom he wishes to vote and the ofilce to which he wishes each person so named by him elected. By this means the
 Will Of the Hector
 himself will find expression through his ballot. If his ignorance is such 1 that he cannot designate the candi. dates and the offices for which he wishes to vote, then he has no will to express and no cause to complain, and 1 am quite sure that the good of the commonwealth would not suffer if such ignoramuses were even deprived of the right of suffrage altogether.
 Another defect in the present law is the absence of provision forbdding every candidate for office and his ad- i herents from purchasing votes by pay ! ing the poll tax of voters. This should be made unlawful under the penalty of forfeiture of the office by the success ful candidate upon its being shown that he has been elected by paying. or causing to be paid, the poll tax of voters in consideration of their support in the election. l recommend an amendment of the law for this pur- pose.
 Railroad Commission.
 I recommend the enactment of a law creating a state railroad commission. Section 10. article IT, of the constitu- tion, provides that 'the general assem- bly shall pass laws to correct abuses and prevent unjust discriminations and excessive charges by railroad. ca nal and turnpike companies for trans porting freight and passengers, and shall provide for enforcing such laws by adequate penalties and forfeitures. ' The laws heretofore passed to carry out this provision have proved made quate to accomplish the purpose in- tended. It needs no argument to sus- tain this declaration. It is a self-evi- dent fact, well attested, and the peo- pie demand adequate legislation. 1 do not believe any legislation for this pur- pose will be adequate unless a special board of officers is provided to enforce the provisions of the law. Such a board should be invested with as am- pie powers as the constitution will warrant. I do not approve of legisla- ton which would be oppressive Or un- just to any person or property inter- est: but l do insist that all persous, W nttnCI UT dIltuCidi. SilOUlu be compelled by adequate means to yield
 Implicit Obedience to the Laws. F
 Tn the aes creating the commission temporarily, l recommend that you provide for assessing and
 Taxing the Railroad
 companies in the state to meet the ex- penses and salaries of the commission. This is just, because, although railroad corporations are private corporations, as distinguished from municipal cor porations. their uses are public As said by Mir. Justice Field, speaking for the supreme court of the United States in Charlotte, etc, Railroad Go. vs. Globes. reported ill the 142d volume of the reports of that court, they are formed for the convenience of the pub- lie in the transportation of persons and merchandise, and are invested for that purpose with special privileges. They are allowed to exercise the states right of eminent domain that they may appropriate for their uses the necessary property of oth- era uDOn having inst compeu-