The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-16

paid or owing, incurred either in their
nomination or election.
1t impose a penalty for the failure
to make such statement, or wilfully
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
1t provides due and sufficient pro-
ceedings, means and regulations to eX-
clude from office, any one guilty Oh cor
rupt or illegal practices.
1t defines the duty of the attorney
] general and the district attorneys in
! the enforcement of the provisions of
the law 1t 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
lcosts.
/ It provides that actions to test the
validity o. an election shall have pref
erence and precedence on the docket
| of any court over all other civil actions
| whatsoever, in order that no delay
may avail to defeat the purposes of the
/ law Or WrOngfuuy Interfere with the
| rights Of candidates of Officers-elect.
1t provides suitably for the nature of
the Judgment to be entered by the
courts Of the state as a result of trial
relating to nominations or elections.
1t provides that when a person who
would otherwise 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
a person seeking nomination or cleo
! ton, so as to bring such committees
or agents within the law. It provides
that political committees shall app6int
a treasurer to receive and disburse all
campaign funds; that such treasurer
i shall keep account books and shall be
required to file a sworn statement of
election expenses 1t requires that
such accounts of election expenses
shall be open to public inspection and
| that duly certified copies shall be filed
| lie records.
| 1t provides penalties for the failure
of the treasurer of a political commit
tee to file the required accounting of
the disbursements of such committee
| 1t 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
we'll 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 ant. disburse funds Sc
cretly, with no limit, restraint, super
vision of accounting, while of every
other agent strict account is re-
quired?
Is there any reason why Wisconsin
should lag behind her neighbors, 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 well
coined the Australian Ballot Law?
Will it not 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 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 eleclion
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
Gals so singularly opposed to any law
compelling verified statement of such
expenses? If the disbursements are
honest and reasonable there is no harm
in reporting them.
TIN rrTTT nr7DnncT1N MR. ,