The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-02-22
THE ELECTION BILL.

interested solely in the honor and pros
perity of our state, we feel it our duty
to say a few words about the Election
Bill, now pending in the Legislature
We hold that it is very undemocratlc
in principle and calculated TO destroy
tho freedom of our elections. In reality
it saps the very foundations of liberty
and will render elections in this
state farce: That when
its despotic machinery, as doubt
less it finally will, has fallen into
partisan and corrupt hands it fastens
venal clique rule upon the state indeh
nitely-for it is easy for these commits
sioners to count out any reform
Legislature elected to repeal it.
bill more fraught with disaster and
degradation to the state of Kentucky
has, we believe, never been offered
in the Kentucky Legislature.
Notice that it entirely does away with
home rule and responsibility in regard
{ elections. The State Commissioners
a elected by the Legislature, all as
matter of course of the dominant party.
These Commissioners, during recess of
the Legislature, and the Legislature
only sits go days in two years, fill va
cancIes in their own board. They ap-
point all the County Commissioners.
and can remove them at any time.
These County Commissioners, RESPONSE
BILE only to this partisan State Board,
appoint all the officers of the elections,
and, at their will, can remove them at
any time. The several boards count all
returns of elections, declare results, and
issue certificates of election. There is
only one reservation of power by the
Legislature, and that is to try a con-
test~d election for Governor, or
Lieutenant Governor.
A more ingenious scheme for giving
the state over to CLIQUE rule without re-
gard to the wishes of the people was
never devised. A more effective plan to
cheat the people out of their right to
choose their rulers or change their poll
cies, as time may dictate the necessity,
was never preached. The friends of
this bill, as an excuse for it, say the Re-
pnblicans roll up to large majorities in
the Eleventh District. Do not the Dem
ocrats do likewise in the First? This
plea is the plea of the wolf in Asop
when he wishes to devour the lamb.
But this matter should not be consid-
cred from partisan standpoint either
way, but from the light of our liberties
and sound Democratic principles.
When state after state is falling under
the dominion of boss rule, let us take
warning at their example and protect
our Liberties while we can. Remember,
patriotic men and true Democrats, that
this is self perpetuating body. this
State Election Commission; that when
once elected that even no Legislature
can sit except such as they may select;
that. they, raised above the people and
independent of the people absolutely
control the whole machinery of your
elections; that if any subordinate
County Board oppose their wishes that
they can Immediately remove them. and
that any election officer can be removed
minute before the election commences;
that there is a complete subOrdination
of all appointees to the despotic control
of this State Board or a majority of it;
that these boards give no bond and are
subject to no penalties, and that if cleo
| ton returns are delayed by the machin-
cry of which they have the control they
can declare results without the full re-
turns.
If this is not despotism, what is it ?
If this bill embodies the principles of
liberty, then deliver Us from such iber-
tY Let all patriotic and conservative
men put their seal Of condemnation up
on this dangerous bill, and let no mem
Der of the Legislature imagine that he
can shirk his duty and responsibility to
his people and his state by going into a
caucus where the result is already pre-
determined in favor of this oligarchical
and tyrannical measure.