BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-10-03
EDITORIAL


elections boards with representation
of two Judges from one party against
one other--are too serious to be treat
ed as joke An attempt has been
made on the part of some to turn the
discussion of these two question into a
matter of ridicule, and it seems as
we'll the intention of the officials who
should give the assurance of absolute
fairness asked for, to commit them
selves in no way whatever as if the
demands made by those who have an
absolute right to make them were
unworthy of their consideration.
Is this rule of two againt one to be
perpetuated? This is question of
the greatest importance and one which
1t behooveS the government to decide.
For failure at this time to give the
Unionlsts no excuse to again withdraw
from the polls, will Enthusiastically
prove that the present election law is
unfair and insecure, that it does not
afford the necessary assurance of i'm
partiality to ALL nor does it enhance or
give prestige to the elective franchise.
If there were any disposition to
remove the cause of friction, and to
a1lay all disposition toward violence
and lawlessness which an election law
flied swith partiality and injustice
always creates by excluding one party
from the rights and privileges which
are their due and graciOusly handing
them over to their opponents, the
simple exped1ent of evenly distribut-
ing representation on the election
boards among the various parties
would be adopted, as being the only
solution compatible with law and
justice.
This is what should be done. Fair
play to all and favors to none, without
however depriving any party of any
advantage it may have gained by its
own efforts and not through govern
mental favoritism.
There are any number of eligible |
and absolutely impartial independents
who could satisfactorily fill the posi-
tions of judges of elections. There are,
as we'll, the democrats. independent
republicans, besides the | a DO r IN 6 |
mans party, which has a definite
political organization.
With these elements to draw upon, |
the election boards could be most
admirably constituted, without favor
ing one side against the other at the |
expense of rancoror chickering's among |
the voters, or without giving any
political party majority of repres-
entation.
The government should carefully
consider this question which has such |
a weighty importance in holding fair
election, and the necessity for remov-
ing the last vestige of doubt or sus-
picion from the minds of the public
that the right of suffrage should be
free and impartial to all, should be
constantly borne in mind.
And the right of suffrage cannot be
free and impartial where on the cleo
tion boards an overwhelming majo ity;
from one party determined to win at
any cost, is pitted against minority,
from a opposing party who are most
vigorous in their protest against the
usurpation of their rights to free
and equal representation. |
In the mean while, time is flying;
the days remaining before election
are numbered anu still the same state
of uncertainty exists. In the face of
the declaration that unless fairness is
guaranteed, one of the parties will
withdraw, the government attends to
everything else except the issue, but
preserves a sphinx like silence upon
the question Of just how far this fair
ness will be preserved, and will give
no reply to those ~hhe lave the right
to ask for some assurance on the
subject. +
This is not the time for those lordly
smiles of superiority, nor grardilo-
quent phrases which mean Iothing.
The people ask and they have a
right to courteous answer.
If they felt that the days of Hunt
had not come to an end, then instead
of asking for fulfllment of the laws,
applied with honor and justice, they
would ask for licenses to carry arms,
"a they have done before, and would
meet force and intimidation with
defense of their rights at any cost.
It is therefore scarcely the place or
fine to ridicdle the request tor a
guarantee that the people S rights Will
z.N1a l