The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-15

two ;oares and ono Clerk On n saesNn
NO COERCION.
In order 10 secure a free and untrarn-
melied ballot for every elector steps
should he taken to prevent coercion, In
limitation and undue Influence OF the
part OF the employers. Every citizen,
whatever may be his station In nfe, should
have every protection thrown around him
In the exercise of his citizenship. Other
states have seen ut TO enact very stringent
legislation 10 prevent undue Influence on
the voter by his employer. As an instanse
the law OF Indian ma provide that whoever.
for the purpose OF influencing a voter.
threatens to enforce the payment OF ~
debt. to injuro the business or trade VI
an clector. or. az an employer threatens
to withhold wages or TO dismiss from
service any laborer In his employment
or refuses to ALLOW employees time to Mt
tend to the place OF election and vote.
shall be fined not more than 400 nor
less than $40, imprisonment In tho e;ato
prison not more than five years, nor less
than one year, and d~isfranchised and ron
dered incapable Of holding any Office OF
trust or profit for any determinauve per-
iod. The enactment and STRUT enforce
ment OF some such provision In the caeo-
tion laws of Nebraska would lesson the
intimidation OF voters and give
o to . free expression OF the will OF
the people at the polls. Provisions
should also be made directing all employ
ers to allow each voter sufnolent time On
election day to deposit HIS ballot.
RAILROAD DISCRIMINATION
Some action might very properly be
taken to discourage discrimination be-
tween political parties by railroad corpo-
rations operating within the state. The
issuance Of passes to an army of political
workers and tho giving of special rates
for the political meetings make the rail-
road companies "A power In shaping the
political destiny OF the state. Where this
power is all welded In tho interest Of one
party and to the prejudice Of another
party. Its weight cannot we'll no over
estimated. Railroad companies do the
business OF the public and should be re-
strained by wholesome legislation from
active participation In party politics. The
officers and employees of such railroad
companies should be free to vote ns nay
seem to them for their own best interests.
Charges of fraudulent registration In the
larger cities of the state rave been fire.
Quently made and I would suggest the
a~dvisability of having the last day OF
registration at least ten days prior to
election day In order that the complete
list Of voters may be scrutinissd by all
inquiring citizens n ample time be at
forded for the apprehension Of those who
~fraudulently register.
THE USE OF MONEY.
| II 10 OBVIOUS that one OF the chief sources
Of corruption In elections IL the use Of
money In providing means or hiring the
voter to go to the polls and vote. BY this
means placing him under obligation and
thus unduly influencing his vote. or to
hire the voter to stay away from the
polls. thereby causing him to neglect his
duty as q citizen.
In order to encourage and stimulate the
FREQ n honest exercise OF the elective
franchise II has occurred to me tina Il
might serve a good purpose were q nom
voting poll tax OF reasonable amount
levied against each elector who may re-
lieve himself by voting at the general
election. or by producing a certificate OF
sickness or disability or by absene from
the county or state. Such q provision
might incidentally be made a source of
revenue to the state and the burden fall
upon a class OF citizens who fail to dis
charge a very important duty devolving
upon every qualified citizen. / suggest
this idea to you for your consideration.
I hope that you will take the neces-
sary steps for the remedying of defects
In our election laws with q view to Civ
ing every possible opportunity for a free
and fair expression OF the will of the
people at the polls.