The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-01-12

appearance and the answering of Spe.
cific questions and the signature of
the person registering, that, in case OF
challenge, founded on the identity of
the voter, full protection will be had.
Direct Primary Laws.
The primaries held in this state the
past year under the direct primary
act met with general public approval.
There was abundant proof of the
grossest frauds in the primaries held
in certain places in this state in April
last when delegates were being elect
ed to select delegates to the national
convention. This was clearly due to
the fact that there was no law regu-
lating that primary election.
Fraudulent registration, illegal vot-
ing, repeating, voting on the names OF
others or upon the names of the dead
or insane, marking ballots to make
void a vote and the like are crimes of
character so detestable that no pun.
ishment is too severe.
The false and absolutely untrue
statement is put forth in opposition to
great expense to be candidate at
primary election. and yet the real
truth Is that a candidate need not ex-
pend single dollar The state pays
for the tickets and insures at the polls
fair election, conducted by competent
election officers.
/ recommend the extension of the
present direct primary to the selection
of delegates to the national conventions
of the respective political parties and
to the election of party committees
And for myself, / thoroughly believe
in its application to the nomination OF
candidates for>governor and represent
atives In congress. If an obligatory
law could be passed applicable to the
selection of United States senators by
the respective parties l would be
heartily in favor Of that. Many states
have petitioned the congress in the
method provided by the federal con-
| stitution, asking that an amendment
be submitted to the states for ratifica
ton by the legislatures thereof, max
ing United States senators elective by
the people of the states as the con-
gressmen now are.
recommend that the present legis
lature place New Jersey with the other
states who have asked for the submits
sion of this amendment to the legisla
ture of the respective states for theiI
ratification.
Voting Machines.
The past legislature, pursuant to the
recommendation of the governor, en-.
acted law permitting the people Of
the state to determine whether they
desired the continuance of the voting
machines in the districts where they
now exist. Two hundred and fifteen
districts took advantage of this act
and in every case where this was done
save three, the vote was to abolish
them. The present voting machine
act should be repealed if not amended
The Election Ballot.
The work of supplying the ballot.
composed Of as many separate pieces
as there are party names, is enors
nous and of great detail. We should
have some system under which all
voters use a similar piece Of paper
containing the names Of all candidates
of all parties for office at the election
n Marked and Rejected Ballots.
The only marked ballot that should
be rejected is one that shows a mark
ing by clear design to identify it from
other ballots In the box.
1t should be made difficult for yot
er to lose his vote, not easy.