The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-21
BLANKET CIRCUMSTANCES.
Some Of the Evils Resulting from Ap-
plicatfOn of the System.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The secrecy of the ballot is one of the
bulwarks Of political liberty. The secret
ballot enables the citizen to vote without
fear or favor, uninfuenced by others, free
from any domination. 1t is quite clear that
the right to vote would be mere mockery
without the secrecy of the ballot. 1t seems
to me that this right had been dangerously
invaded by the blanket remonstrance law
which, 1t Is insisted, is equivalent to a
local option law. 1t seems to me that if it
had ever been the intention of the Legis-
lature to pass local option law, they
would have given the citizen the same OPP
portunity to vote his own sentiment, I'M
trammeled by outside influences, as is given
in every other case of voting. But in the
case Of the blanket remonstrance, consid-
ering the signing of a power of attorney,
or the refusal to sign 1t, equivalent to a
vote, the voter is not free to do as he
pleases. The community being divided OH
the question, no matter what the voter
does, he has cause to fear TO incur the en-
nifty of one part OF the community: To the
will of all his neighbors the situation in
such a case, especially in smaller cities and
towns. becomes greatly embarrassing.
This blanket remonstrance business which
compels the citizens to declare themselves
publicly for or against a public measure,
has carried strife and animosity every
where, has destroyed the peace and har-
mites, and has engendered good deal of
bitter feeling. Furthermore it has been the
source of astounding corruption. 1t is not
probable that the Fourth ward Of this city
stands on lower moral level than any
other community in this State. Now, what
did the trial in the Schafer case in that
ward disclose? According to the decision
of Judge Allen there were twenty tripli-
Gates and 10 duplicates among the sigma
lures. That is to say. twenty persons voted
beg pardon, signed the power three times.
tended was shown by the fact that those
who signed oftener than once. each time
signed in different manner. changing the
order of initials of christian names. There
was the name of one dead person. Had he
risen from the grave for the purpose of
signing? Fifty-nine of the signers did not
live in the ward. Is it possible, in view OF
| the other frauds, that this was merely a
mistake? Was 1t also merely a mistake
that large number of minors, one not
older than seventeen years, had signed the
| power? Was it a mistake that it was pre-
| sented TO and signed by women?
| Many persons testified that their names
| were written under the power without their
knowledge and consent. and the court took
| occasion to say: THE liberty which has
| been taken with other peoples names in
| this connection can only be accounted fol
| on the theory that the parties concerned
| did not at the time realize the serious i'm
port of what they were doing" But car
| the same be said of those who presented
| the document for signature?
4 l0eTe are many WHO leStlueQ tndI tIt
matter was falsely represented to them
but the court decided that the signatures
must stand, because one who can read
cannot excuse himself by saying that he diC
| not understand the contents or the effect
| of a document he signed. Nevertheless:
| there remained not enough honest sigma
| lures to make power valid. 1t bore 1,I3
| signatures; 1857 were necessary; so there
must have been at least $50 dishonest oil
| fraudulent signatures. How many more
| there were the judge did not say. Think o
| it! Think of the amount of persuasion t
| commit fraud, and the willingness to com
| NIT it. Think of the women and boys wht
| were dragged into it. Is not at least tn,
| question justified, whether all this mus
| not harm the morals of community much
| more than any number of saloons can harm
| them?
Now the demonstrators find themselve
| in the unpleasant position that they ar
liable for the costs, amounting to NOR
than $1,000. Not each for his pro rat;
| share, but each for the whole amount
Until paid, the Judgment stands as a liel
against the property of each OF them
| 1t strikes me that they have never beel
| fully and honestly informed upon thi
phase of the matter.
| Now, / ask in all sincerity whether thes
| blanket remonstrances do not do much NOR
| harm than good; whether they are no
harmful and dangerous from a practical
| political, as we'll as moral standpoint
| 1 think it can safely be said that the Leg
islature never intended, nor foresaw them
A GEIGER.
Toy