Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-12

thrown around the ballot, for the purity
of the ballot is the very foundation OF
free government. II the ballot oe e cor cor
soned at its beginning. Amendments
would be advisable giving election com
missioners more power to supervise the
work IF judges and clerks, and to enable
any citizen, upon filing application, to
question the legality of any registered
vote, to the end that the registration lists
may be purged of fraud before the Gay OF
made in the laws, and then the people
allowed to grow accustomed to them.
Wholesale changes every two years are
not desirable, for as soon as the people
become acquainted with one form or pal
lot the system is changed to some other
method. Oftentimes the wrongs COM
but from the manner in which the laws
are executed. Many of these evils can
be corrected by reforming the admins
tration of the law. AT the same time, me
more perfect the law can be made, the
better. l want 1t SO that every demo-
crat, every republican, every popuiist,
every citizen of every party n OF no
party shall have the right to, go TO nus
without interference from any source. 1
intend to do all in my W to guar
antee each citizen protection IN casting
his ballot and having it counted as cast,
and no more counted than are cast.
Compulsory Voting.
llllS letuS W diloilitl ShbJNNN'
each citizen must be protected in voting,
the state is entitled to la each citizen
vote, in order that the result OF the
election may. be the just sentiment OF
the franchise is the highest duty OF citl-
zcnship, yet how careless many are IN
using this privilege, how Indifferent many
not. The right of suffrage is a priceless
privilege; it marks the difference between
The citizen and the subject: Men have
died in order that we might have this
right, and we would give up our lives
rather than lose it. 1t would seem to
be only Just that those who do not prize
this privilege enough to exercise 1t ought
rot to nave it. The knowledge that fa1lure
to vote, would disfranchlse them and make
them political eunuchs would bring nome
to them a realization of its supreme
value. Too many men take the great
boon of American citizenship as a mat
ter of course, forgetting the blood and
treasure that bought it for them. Let
him who without good cause avoids TINS
simple. duty be, barred by law from an
the privileges that flow from citizenship,
leaving to the individual the right in prop
er proceedings to purge his disqualiiica-
ton. Then there would be less trouble IN
obtaining. a full and free expression OF
poration obtains a franchise, 1t is forfeit
ed by non-user. Apply his principle
with appropriate safe guards n5,u 10 10
more than anything else to remedy the
evil of civic Indifference that is the weak
ness of a republican form OF govern
ment.
State Primary Law.
The nearer government can be brought
to the people, the purer and better mat
primary law should be enacted, whereby
all nominations for state, county and
municipal offices will be made by pri-
mary held on the same day all over the
ctctn Hxy oil nplitinal naTtipg with the
same number of voting places as in the
general election and the expenses paid
In the same manner. This would do
away with the political boss, for the PEG,
boss delights in a multiplicity of prima-
ries and conventions. The ordinary citi-
zen, after attending one or two conven-
tons and primaries, becomes weary. and
' gives his attention to other matters, leaV-
! ing the field to those h are IN politics
for revenue only. The result is, unless
the people are Intensely aroused, .nomi-
nations are made, not by, the people, but
by those who have a selfish interest to
be served. A state primary would, as a
rule, nominate the best men and the
nominees would represent the people.
With a state primary law, there would
be just two days that the citizen would
have to devote-one to go to the polls
for the nomination and h other to go
ton. The benefits of this system are at
once apparent and commend themselves
to all except those who nave q SelhSn
motive in retaining present conditions.
United states Senator's BY People.
As another step in the direction of gov
eminent by the people, United States
senator's ought to be elected by the peo-
pie, n Missouri should lead the demand
for a constitutional amendment provid-
ing for this reform.
Labor and Capital.
Among the problems we must deal with
is the relation between labor and capital.
This is one of the most important ques-
tons of the hour. Labor has rights
which capital should recognize, and cap
ital has rights which labor should not
be idle. and labor without capital would
be unemployed-each is necessary to the
other. Since the dawn of creation men
have disagreed and disputed about their
human nature controls. One can not al
ways be right and the other always
wrong: The principle of arbitration,
properly and fairly, enforced, will result
archy of capital and the anarchy of
labor that causes the trouble. The pur-
rose of government is not to make
money, but to protect the weak against
order. Labor has as much right to
organize as capital, and the laboring man
is usually just as patriotic, has purposes
as noble and Instincts as high as his en-
differences is that demagogues infame
the laboring man and d~emagogues in
flame the capitalist, for one who appeals
just as much a d~emagogue as one who
appeals to the class prejudices of the
workingman. Most of the disputes be-
If both sides would act in a spirit Of
fairness. Laboring men have no right to
any special privilege, n others have
no right to demand special privileges
-xau Il1nxa . TLn ,N,,I1tpF hos ~ ipfaraCf
in these controversies between employer
and employee, for the public business is
disturbed thereby. 1 believe it is the
province of the governor of the state to
keep the public peace by settling these
disputes, and he should make 1t his bust
ness, as far as possible, to do so, If the
contest involves the public welfare in any
way.
Enforcement of Law.
The constitution ~(article 5, section G.
provides: THE governor shall take care
that the avs are distributed and faith.
fully executed; and he shall be a conserv'
{ ator of the peace throughout the state
1t is my purpose to carry out that man
date of the constitution. l. believe tina
3 il the law is on he statute books i
!, should be observed. If it be a bad law
) the remedy is to repeal, not to ignore it
r Disregard OF one law breeds disrespec1
t for all law, and there is entirely too LITTLE
respect for the majesty of the law. Coco
: men will observe bad laws and bad mel
will break good W 1t should be 81
that all men be compelled to observe
: every law, because it Is the law. Tina
will bring good laws and get rid of bat
{ laws. By virtue Of the power vested ii
| the executive, it is my intention to Sc
5 that the laws are administered equitabl!
throughout the state. If any prosecuting
attorney fails to discharge his duty, o
: needs assistance, l shall direct the attor
ney general, under the statute, to all
him. This will entail extra work on tn
attorney-general's office in addition t
: the burdens already resting on that de
partment. The attorney-general's offic
e ought TO be adequately supplied witt
f help, and 1t is not now. There is n
e economy in stinting the department o
e justice, for the object of having govern
ment at all is to have laws and to hav
G those laws enforced. 1t is folly to enac
i laws and have the facilities for enforcin
those laws inadequate. Laws that ar
not carried out are as useless as arm
e in WAL that are not uaad- ~