Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-09-17
| SHALL TIE PEOPLE RULE
Declared to Be a Paramount Issue
in Democratic Arkansas.
The Situation Intolerable to Free
People.

Bryan said: Our platform declares
| that the overshadowing issue which
| manifests itself In all the questions
now under discussion. is, shall the PEG.
pie rule? No matter which way we
turn; no matter to what subject we ad-
dress ourselves. the same question con-
| fronts us
lt Mr. Bryan will 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 or 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 or Republican Clubs, In an ad.
dress delivered August p. 1908. ut
Maumelle. Arkansas, said:
I'm the last national contest the Re-
publicans OF this state poled ~ 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
patch up 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
tired OF hearing the Republicans ever.
llastingly talking about the Arkansas
election law. But just as long as This
Ubiquitous system remains with us and
the machine that it has created con-
tinues faithfully and uner'ingly 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 issue from
the housetops and demand the common
rights OF American citizens.
IL have no hcsitancy in saying that
the fertile source Of ninetenths of all
the evils under which this state suf-
fers Is the Democratic election law Of
1891.
The law that places the whole ma
chinery OF elections In the hands OF
three Democratic oliice.holders, often
themselves candidates for reelection, ID
itself the strongest circumstantial evil
dence that 1t IL the intention to steal
the election. Add to this the refusal
to allow the Republicans, who cast 30
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 conserya.
tive man 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 II was
created for th|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 " given an equal chance with the
Democrats at the polls.
In,oIernbIe situation.
) The situation Is intolerable to n free
people, In l77G my forefathers ana
; 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 DISTINGUISHED.
, They all contribute to the support OF
) the state institutions; they bear their
share of the cost or public Improve
ments they do all that any citizen does
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 who
shall represent them as the LEVERS OF
[ taxes
J More than that. this law opens
yawning grave to every rising man In
: Arkansas who claims the right OF indie
! pendent thought II stiles every laud.
: able political aspiration; 1t stands with
flaming sword In the path OF anyone
: who would gain prefermept outside OF
I the Democratic party; 1t blasts hope
D and kills ambition and over " all it
5 lays its blighting hand upon the ballot
box, corrupting and perjuring our Dem
I ocratic officials and robbing vs. OF the
elective franchise. the most sacred ana
I valuable prerogative OF free citizen
r ship
/. This is the paramount issue In our
D state campaign; not the state capitol:
not the convict system not the trusts.
I but whether Arkansas as state Is to
= be honest and square with her people
. and treat them all with equality and
even-handed justice, which Is conceded
: to be the right OF every American citi-
e zen under the Constitution The Re.
' publicans who are working side by side
with the Democrats IN business. the
church. society. and in every laudable
enterprise that seeks to upbuild this
I state. appeal to all good citizens TO help