The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1908-09-05
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE
Declared to Be a Paramount Issue
in Democratic Arkansas.
Ths Situation Intolerable to Free
People.

In his speech of acceptance Mr..
Bryan said: "0ur platform declares
that the overshadowing issue which
man!fests itself IN all the questions
now under discussion. is, shall the peo-
pie rule? No matter which way we
turn: no matter to what subject we adj
dress ourselves. the same question con
fronts us"
IL Mr.. Bryan will turn towards al
most any Southern state which has
been under permanent Democratic con
troll he Will quickly find field for
practical work in the direction of hay
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.
The Issue In Arkansas.
or 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:
"In the last national contest the Re-
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 II it required twenty days to
patcA up a majority Of only 1900 for
parker. who Is there who will not say
that by every application of eircum
stantial evidence Roosevelt actual!
carried Arkansas in 1904.
THE Democrats often say they grow
tired 81 hearing the Republicans ever
liastingiy talking about the Arkansa
election low But just as long as thi
Ubiquitous -sterr remains with us an
the machine tina II has created cor
tinues faithfully and unerringly
grind out majorities for the Gominan
party, giving the minority no represer
tation of their own choice on tn
county boards or at the polling place
just SO long will we cry the issue frol
the housetops and demand the eommd
rights of American citizens.
"I have no hesitancy In saying "a
the fertile source Of nine-tenths Of 1
the evils under which this state 81
fers is the Democratic election law
1891.
THE law that places the whole m
chinery Of elections in the hands
Vii three Democratic office-holders, oft
i'm. themselves candidates for reelection,
this itself the strongest circumstantial e
per- dence that it is the intention to ST.
pies the election. Add to this the refu'
nge to allow the Republicans, who cast
Ugh per cent of the vote In this state,
ais right to name their own election judl
fills and clerks, and the evidence Is aim
His complete to convince the most conser'
om- tive man Of the fact that Republics
are, in Arkansas are beforehand marked
Tres defeat and that fairness and hone
it'll and the reputation of the state will
has be sacrificed, If necessary, to carry
las- the corruption.
oad "The Democrats have frankly gi'
the as their excuse for this law that 1t v
Re created for the purpose of counting
lisa the negro Yet we all know that
zen worst features of this law are invol
in the white counties of the st
pom where the Republicans would sur
no win If given an equal chance with
Tor Democrats at the polls.
or