The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-09-25
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE
Declared to Be q Paramount Issue
in Democratic Arkanaas.
The Situation Intolerablo to Free
People.

DlJdA Ddlu OuE ulALlOEu ueClAEcD
that the overshadowing issue which
manifests itself in all the questions
now under discussion, is, shall the peo-
pie rule? No matter which way we
turn 10 matter to what subject we adj
dress ourselves, the same question con-
fronts u.s.
If Mr. Bryan wiz turn towards al
most any Southern state which has
been under permanent Democratic con-
troll, he will quickly find a field for
practical work in the direction of hav-
ing the people rule. Let him, for in
stance, turn towards Arkansas, where
there is a campaign in progress involv-
ing, above all other issues, the reform
of the present electoral system of the
state.
hi Issue in Arkansas.
OF this system, and of some Of the
issues involved in the campaign, George
l.. Mallory, Secretary Arkansas State
League of Republican Clubs, in an adj
dress delivered August 81, 1908, at
Maumelle. Arkansas, said:
LII tie last HdlIOIldl cOuleSI lu0 ItS-
| publIcans of this state polled AZ per
cent of the total vote cast. Roosevelt
received only 1900 fewer votes than
Parker, and this with the returns held
back for twenty days by the election
boards before the results were an
nounced. If it required twenty days to
| patch VI a majority of only 1900 for
Parker, who Is there who will not say
that by every application Of circum-
stantial evidence Roosevelt actually
carried Arkansas in 1904.
"The Democrats often say they grow
liastingly talking about the Arkansas
election law. But just as long as this
ubiquitous system remains with us n
the machine that it has created con-
tinues faithfully and unerringly to
grind out majorities for the dominant
party. giving the minority no represen-
tation Of their own choice on the
county boards or at the polling places,
just so long will we cry the ssue from
the housetops and demand the common
rights of American citizens.
Il have nc hesitancy in saying that
the fertile source of nine-tenths Of all
the evils under which this state SUI
fers is the Democratic election law Of
1891.
The law that places the whole ma
chinery Of elections in the hands Of
three Democratic ofics-holders, often
] thon,co1vac ,,,.1 lido fas For rn A1Acfinn d
itself the strongest circumstantial evil
dence that it is the intention to steal
the election. Add to this the refusal
to allow the Republicans, who cast -
per cent of the vote in this state, the
right to name their own election judges
and clerks. and the evidence is almost
complete to convince the most cons6rva.
tive IA Of the fact that Republicans
in Arkansas are beforehand marked for
defeat, and that fairness and honesty
and the reputation Of the state will all
be sacrificed, il necessary, to carry out
the corruption.
The Democrats have frankly given
as their excuse for this law that it wal
created for the purpose Of counting out
the negro. Yet we all know that the
worst features Of this law are invoked
in the white counties of the state
where the Republicans would surely
win If given an equal chance with the
Democrats at the polls.
I~ntelssable Situation.
THE situation is intolerable to q free
people. In 1776 my forefathers and
yours fought and bled because they
were taxed and were not allowed rep
~resentation. To-day. the Republicans,
Prohibitionists, Socialists, and Popu-
lists are taxed and are d~isfranchised.
They all contribute to the support Of
the state institutions; thoy bear their
share of the cost Of public improve
ments; they do all that any citizen dses
to pay the running expenses Of city.
county and state, but they are not al.
lowed representation. They pay taxes
but the law prevents them saying whe
shall represent them rs the LEVERS Of
taxes. ~~E<s.s /
More than that, this law opens 1
yawning grave to every rising mar In
Arkansas who claims the right Of inde-
pendent thought. 1t stiles every laud.
able political aspiration it stands with
4 flaming sword in the path Of anyone
who would gain preferment outside of
the Democratic party it blasts hope
and kills ambition, n I'VE It eli 70
lays it's blighting hand upon the ballot
box, %corrupting and perjuring our Dem
ocratic officials and robbing US Of the
elective franchise, the most sacred and
valuable ~prerogative Of free citizen
ship.
This is the paramount issue n our
state campaign not the state capitol
not the convict system not the trusts,
but whether Arkansas as 4 state u e
be honest and square with her people
and treat them all with equality and
even-handed justice, which = ceocedol
to be the right Of every AneEioan citi.
~>n ,,rd>r <hn Cn~a<i$sa<tnA eshA -