La Junta tribune., 1908-09-19
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE
Declared to Be . Paramount Issue
In Democratic Arkansas.
The Situation Intolerabls to Free
People.

uduiIeStb itSelI III Ill tHe QueStiouD
now under discussion. is. shall the peo-
pie rule? No matter which way We
turn no matter to what subject we ad-
dress ourselves, the same question con-
fronts u.s."
II 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 campaign In progress inyolv-
ing, above all other issues, the reform
of the present electoral system of the
state. -s.
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 y, 1908, ut
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 We're an
nounced. If 1t required twenty days to
patch up n majority of only 1000 for
Parker, who is there who viii 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
liastingly talking about the Arkansas
election law. But just as long as this
iniuuitous system remains with us and
the machine that II has created con-
tinues faithfully and unerringly to
grind out majorities for the dominant
party. giving the minority no rcpresen.
tation of their own choice on the
county boards or mt the polling places,
just so long will we cry the issue from
the housetops and demand the common
rights of American citizens.
~ have no hesltancy in saying that
the fertile source OF nine-tenths of all
the evils under which this state SUI.
fers IL the Democratic election law OF
| 1891.
"The law that places the whole ma
chInery of elections In the hands OF
| three Democratic oiiice-holders, often
themselves candidates for reelection, 10
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 40
t., To otu
right to name their own election judges
and clerks. and the evidence Is almost
complete to convince the most conserva-
tive man OF the fact that Republicans
| I'm Arkansas nre beforehand marked for
defeat, and that fairness and honesty
and the reputation OF the state will all
be sacrificed, II necessary, to carry out
the corruption.
THE Democrats have frankly given
| MS their excuse for this law that 1t was
created for the purpose of counting out
| the negro. Yet we NIL know that the
| worst features OF this law are invoked
In the white counties of the state
where the Republicans would surely
win II given an equal chance with the
Democrats at the polls
IntoIerabls situation.
.The situation is htolerable to free
people In 177G 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 dIsfranchised.
They all contribute to the support OF
| the state institutions; they bear their
share OF the cost Of 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.
more than that. this law opens Z
yawning grave to every rising man In
Arkansas who claims the right Of indie
pendent thought. 1t stiles every laud-
| able political aspiration 1t stands with
n flaming sword in the path Of anyone
who would gain preferment outside OF
the Democratic party; 1t blasts hope
md kills ambition, and over 1t all 1t
lays its 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 in our
state campaign; not the state capitol;
not the convict system; not the trusts.
but whether Arkansas as state is to
be honest and square with her people
L ...l NIL r<1alalIts. md