Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-07-19

I. NAtAh1AAHt bAb tAG AslCAc 1AlAt4OL W HIllLh
, ed at and by far the best way is to reC
ognize them and take the necessar
steps to obyiate such things in the ia
ture.
r Vermont, and every other state, ha
most stringent laws to safeguard tn,
: honesty and purity of elections. 1t i
i made penal offence to purchase, o.
offer to purchase votes, to intimidat,
voters, or in any way to interfere witt
a free and fair expression of the popu,
lar will at thepolIs. The qualifications
Of voters are carefully prescribed and
check lists must be prepared to keep
the record Of those authorized to vote.
In addition, few years since, to in
sure a more honest and secret ballot,
the Australian law was passed-an in
tricate mechanism, but one that has
fully proven its worth. There is
plenty OF legislation for controlling
elections, but none too much, and little
complaint is heard that elections are not
free and fair and honest in Vermont.
But except in certain sections of the
Australian law. providing for their
equitable representation on the official
ballot and by representatives at the
polls. the law takes no cognizance
whatever of the existence of political
parties From anything that one could |
infer from our general statutes. no
such things exist Considering the
influence in elections that
parties now exert, this is singular and
the studied effort to ignore them seems
without warrant. 1t does seem as il,
having thrown every possible protec-
ion about the polls, having provided
or the printing, at the states expense.
II the tickets formulated by the several
PARTIES, that the law should 90 a step
urther and do everything in its power
0 make certain that the tickets named J
{ the primaries are the honest express
ions of the voters properly qualified t,
make them up. :,
As matters now stand, it is Just as
luch within the bounds OF law to pur- B
lase a nomination at a caucus or con- 4,
ention as it is to purchase -four or
y goods Bribery, fraud and cor 50
Lption are at full liberty to operate. a
far as the fear Of legal punishment
res. All kinds of dishonest trickerv w
ny be resorted to, if the end appears co
justify it. The game of poker is =
der the ban-eyen the square game ar,
{ the game of party politics goes on tn
thout hindrance and many a man ~
; been known to hold five aces when n.
3 call came. The effect has been at
at might be expected Every wire the
pulled before and during the con- pol
ltions. Charges are frequent of T ~
es purchased outright, of rewards A
'mised, of Democrats taking part in Coi
publican caucuses and vice versa. A.
N'~'N' -
o'gs Oeihs cast Dy aliens or those "a
"''i''eu 70 vote ut an Nlthout a mir
ticle OF question, there is much ed
IL. L, III tuese charges In Vermont, Che
he'"pncah party Is so lar IN the t geo
o'''A 'laV Il nomination Is equYa- and
10 an electloh' ana the machinery e a.
IL
when THESE nominations are made Geo
III 10 operate Itself. Indeed. the va va
.uef Is that there Is not more COM ting
ht' ana II may be attributed to the aPa
general morality and sense Of silk
VI VI Tue hepuoAcan voters as a ~ =
;. beau
zen caucus, each convention, is a drs an
unto Itself 1t may do the most cept
cara o. the mostoutrageous things, Lowe
1900 P0"0 ~ "''hS r.
account, But, it is asked, do not a. 70
IT methods bring their own pun 1t is
ent' Does not a candidate who 9 O sr
lions them sutier2 In a measure