The sun., 1901-04-15

aw provides that men shall--not may
vote. 1t provides the conditions under !
which they shall vote. 1t makes it their
duty to vote. In no other way can the
object sought-the Judgment of all the
voters, and the consent OF all the voters
be ascertained. In this way the ethics
of politics is demonstrated to be obedi-
cnce to the law, nothing more and moth
ing less. Every voter voting, and every
vote counted for whom it was cast, is
the ideal political result. The judg
ment Of the majority ascertained in that
way is the highest possible human
Judgment. 1t is this judgment, if any
Oh earth. that takes hold Of the Divine
Judgment and has the sanction OF in
finite wisdom. 1t follows that every |
citizen to whom the law accords the right |
to vote-upon whom it imposes the duty |
TO vote-and who fails to vote at pri- |
maries, as elsewhere, impairs the result |
of that election and makes il fall short
of the result contemplated in the law.
1t is not, therefore, the man who votes
ut the primaries who commits the fault
who is really responsible for the nomi-
nation of unfit and unworthy candidates
but the men who allow that nomna-
ton by default in the performance of
their duty.
There is another thing TO be consid
cred and that is the abstcntion of men
| to whom the performance Of amy politi-
cal duty could be assigned with every
assurance of its honest discharge, from
active interest in and work at primary
elections. To he plain about this we call
attention to the primary election law Of
this State and for this city. 1t ap-
parcnty throws every possible safe
guard around the primary ballot and the
primary ballot box; and yet there is
constant, and we believe well grounded
complaint that primary elections are
not honestly held. Why? The answer
to this question involves the work of
party organization. Under our primary
election law the selection OF the primary
election officers is committed to the
party managers. The Department of
Elections select from lists OF available
names. furnished by these managers,
points as primary election officers. The
department can do nothing else than
t appoint from the lists furnished. Now
if these lists contain the names OF per-
sons dishonest enough to stuff Il ballot
box, or to falsify return, whose fault
/ is it? 1t is prcsumable that the mem
!. bcrs Of the election department have
the authority to reject any list of names
+ that is Objectionable. or to refuse to ap-
, point any one against whom there may
, lie II suspicion Of dishonesty. We think,
[ too, that il is reasonable TO say that it
is the duty of the members of the De
partment of Elections to reject any such
4 names; and furthur, it is the duty of
= these members of the Department of Elcc-
p tions TO insist ON the naming of election
officers who are above suspicion. Par
ticularly is that Il duty in districts
where fraud is known to have been com
/, mittcd and even where it has been sus-
i pccted.
!, There is authority enough for this in
4 the intent of the law. The party man
:, ayers can put on the lists of names sub
!, mittcd to the Department of Election,
!. any names they please. They are no
!. compelled to ask any one to serve as al
- election officer. The best material il
:, any district is as available to them IL
4 is the worst. 1t is their business t,
\ make the lists. 1t is the business of th
.. Department of Elections to make the ap
N bointmcnts and see to it that the mel
/. appointed serve i'll those appointments
!. That is the law. What more could b
i. done by law? 1t seems that with thi
n breadth of privilege in the selection an
-. appointment of primary election officers
n. that the provisions Of the law pro
\, riding penalties for the punishment 0
u fraud ut primary elections are super
luous. Either that or it must be coi
j.. rludcd that honest men are not avail
:, able for primary election service il
\, Delaware.
In discussing this question at this tim,
q we assume to accurately state tn
Union Republican position upon th
i primary election question to be, as
\. has been, a demand for honest primarit
i, honest voting and honest counting ,
i; every vote honestly cast. Let us sa
Just here that these things are essentia
=. Nothing. else can assure success. In til
Il. general talk about the coming primar
u, election there has come to us an int
90 nation that factional result of I'll
II, election is TO be sought and forced b
ii some OF the factionalists who imagiI
~ that their particular interests will be Il,
~ vanced by the nomination of a man
is their kind for mayor of this city. III
or object of this factional intent, if it e,
" lists, is not difficult to determine. III
~ intination OF such an intent gives grea
~. cr Importance TO the primary electo
tv question. The result Of that electic
must be beyond question. Doubt abol
,.I il would be disastrous. Known frau
he would vitiate every obligation Of II