The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
TO Purify Elections.
sdttn~ - tho paef

1
uary o.--BrIbory, intimidation, coercion.
etc, carried on 30 boldly under the exist
Ing election laws OF our Union, can not
be too severely condemned. Every honest
citizen must dcplore such state Of af-
fairs
is 1t not time that steps we're taken
to have this most degrading practice
stamped out? Can nothing be done BY
our law makers to redeem the character
Of our Nation?
Laws that would put a stop 20 this
dcbauchery would be welcomed by all cit'-
zen3 who desire to see elections conducted
with honesty and purity.
\ Let us at least cndeayor TO retrieve the
character OF our Nation, by having laws
| put on the statute books, that VIII bl1ng
/ the corfuptionsts to Justice Nothing
| hut strong measures will wipe this out,
so recommend a term OF twelve months
In The penitentiary, TO meet the case
| Tho following suggestions, l believe,
| would ACCOMPLISH this.
| Section |. That any citizen desiring to
vote at any election In pursuance OF the
election laws Of tho United States, bt
| compelled to produce to the Officers or
| such election his tax receipt, showing
that he has duly paid the taxes which be-
| came duo prior to the election at which
1 he claims to vote, and that said taxes be
! paid at least one calendar month prior
10 any election; otherwige he be drbarred
| from voting thereat.
| Sec. O. That should the tax receipt Of any
olector be misaid or destroyed. he may
make affidavit stating the facts, before
n justice OF the peace, or any person
| atTlhorized TO administer oaths said aifi-
| davit to be handed to the collector OF
taxes, who shall make n copy of such re-
ceipt for said elector. which receipt must
be marked copy" the said eector he
| then ut liberty to vote on copy" receipt,
| provided that the original shall aot have
! been voted on previously.
| Sec. g. That the officers Of each voting
precinct shall indorse on back OF tax re-
ceipt "Voted----day Of, and return
same to the owner of such tax receipt
| See 4. That the voting papers neces-
snry for each precinct be conveyed to he
officers authorized TO manage elections
and that said voting remain In the custody
M snid offtcere and only be handed to
each elector as he presents himself to
vote
See g. That my citizen who shall have
reached the age OF u years, prior 10 an
election AT which he ,,csi,es = vote. Dus.
make affidavit stating his exact axe, be-
fore a Justice of the pease. or one o! me
offIcers In charge of such election. salr
affidavit TO be handed over to the officers
of said elecilon when the elector shall
present himself for the purpose Of yot-
ing.
Seq G That The oflldayiis referred to
In sor,,on r no delivered Inv one of tho
officers In cbarp, of any election 10 the
tnx ages r a; the county within ten DAYS
az INV oloctton ror tho purnnse ri having
The same recorded in the books of the said
assessor
600 Tbot N, citizen sbali be eliribla
,o vote AT any election ,nless he shall
have resided in Tho ME met in which he
claims IA vote nj least one calendar month
prior in such election.
soc. s. That any master employer or any
otbcr nerson who shall brine intimidate.
cocrtu or In any way end.ayer to prevent
an nloctor from cosiinr hi. vote according
TO Ills own Judgment and inclination. be,
on conviction, imprisoned In the peniten-
,,,an ,,vni,,e no,an,So. ,,,rntru ana ha alsN
niod not less than si0o nor more than
$500,
cities of 10000 inhabitants and over
a ~, w. y m 10y M ss,su,"t,on ssS,ua'
boobs for registration OF voters one month
prior TO elections, aud keep open twenty
consecutive cave SUNDAYS excepted ana
~, W. ~, "a =" 1870 I'LL oes.a W
also furnished With IN office, books, blank
certificates, etc,
IL WIZ thus he seen maj the registration
system IS very Costly ana possibly iitte
'hrumNehient lor some electors
INV snow" no, thr wax r,oelpt take
place OF the 'resistration oertihcatef u
woNid certainly reduce the expenses, If no
more
DON'T think any person ought 10 have
me rlSht 10 vote unless he contributes
toward the expenses OF tho city, town or
county IN which he resides.
" mo system OF voting as ! have sue
rested were To become INV, u would no,
IN nv oninion' the means OF checking the
rnrrnonoptst, simplity voting increase
nc recf,pts derived from taxes apd en-
tlrelv wine out the EXPENSES incurred hv
voting on registration certificates and
nnnil purify oleoions
Thomas i. Watson.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
To tho Editor OF the Post
Waco. Texas. January Tn last Mon
DAVIS Post Mr.. q w pearce advocates
Tho oxomn,,or ~ Al, moohi,srv n.oa o.,