St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-10-30

ain of all power in our form of govern
ment, >" Mr.. Ross urged that the Cod
given rights of self defense demands that
careful attention should be given in
selecting those who are given the right
to cast the ballot. Those who WELD this
primary source of governmental power
should be both intelligent and honest,
| especially honest, otherwise their unwise
action may overthrow this government
'of the people, for the people, by the PEG
ple."
How can the danger element in the ex-
ercise OF the right of sell defense be elimin,
ated from among those who exercise the
elective franchise2 This and related
questions Mr.. Ross regarded as matters
of grave difficulty. One danger element
in the exercise of the franchise is the
criminal class, another the Indifferent,
another those who prostitute it to the
base purpose of buying and selling, di-
rectly or indirectly, its use for gain. To
defend the nation against the dangers
threatened from these sources stringent
and effective laws should be enacted.
First, persons convicted of crime pun.
ishabe by confinement in penal institu-
tlons should be forever deprived of the
franchise by constitutional provision.
Second, the elective franchise imposes a
duty at well as confers a right. No man
should long enjoy the right who neglects
to discharge the duty. Hence there
should be a law pro viding that voting
for elective officers be by check list, and
voters neglecting to vote for specified
period OF time, for example, two years,
shall be stricken from the check list and
not restored till five years or other
specified period has elapsed, unless it is
clear that sickness or other disability |
was the reason for not voting. SuCh a |
law would tend 10 enforce the discharge
OF this duty and render unnecessary the
expenditure of money for voters time
or tor bringing him to the polls.
Thirdly, the use OF money in elections is
the danger element most difficult to en-
successfully. Without doubt
any person who TOR money or other con-
will sell his vote, and any per-
son who will buy it, should by law lose
he right to vote. Any man who holds
such low and degrading views in regard
20 right so important to the we'll being
)t the community and the life and stabi-
ty OF the nation is unfit to exercise the
light, and in the exercise of the right of
'et defense it should be taken from him.
Mr. Ross ed ba RI
menace the purity of the franchise and
which have long been the subject of dis.
curse. To apply to these the law OF
et defense is difficult matter. He sug
sested Corrupt Practice Act, like law
Il England, enacted at time when a
shameful use of money and corrupt
controlled nearly all elections to
parliament. Mr.. Ross indicated some of
he corrupt practices against which such
4 statute should be aimed.
A measure which a part of the people
u this state have strenuously advocated
was strongly favored by the speaker-a
aw regulating the election and action of
party caucuses and conventions. The
Australian ballot law, Mr.. Ross truly
said, which practically precludes the
'oters from electing any but the nomin-
'es OF the ring and machine, furnishes the
opportunity by which such combinations
accomplish their purposes, so long as the
nominations are made by delegates Sc
ected in caucuses ungoverned by any
statutory regulations. Primary eau
uses should be surrounded by the same
as are thrown around cleo
ions. No safeguards are placed around
he making of nominations. Hesuggest-
I'd for the warning and control OF the
primaries law similar to the one recent
y enacted in Minnesota, under the oper-
alton OF which the danger arising from
political rings and machine bosses would
be eliminated or greatly lessened