Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-11


sured. This is q small cost for a con-
summation 30 greatly to be desired. !.
There is nc subject that is to coine
before the present Legislature which
casts SO great an obligation upon US as
the creation of Q public utilities COM
mission with ample powers. 1t is an
obligation as sacred as the good faith
of q POLITICAL pledge cat make it. 1t is
as binding as should be the loyalty Of a
representative to the people who elected
him. t
The Primary Election Law.
The direct primary laws that exist in
our State. are, in my opinion, popular
with the people, and when tested
further viii be found to meet univer-
sal approval. Some, notifications are
needed, @j,5 l !
Provision should be made for an en-
rolment of party voters and for the
prevention of any voter of one party
from voting in the primary Of another.
Chapter 2S1, of the laws of 1907. rela-
tive to the expression of a choice for
United States senator by the voters of
the respective parties, will be opera
tive this year for the first time at the
primary election. \ Public attention
should. be drawn to it In every way
and universal action obtained. Under
this law. the people Of the State,
through their respective party pri-
mary elections, will have opportunity
to give expression as to whom they
favor to represent the State in the
United States Senate, and If a general
/ Axnrcocfnv. 4P fIA nanrIC ~ 10 n
cured the task of the legislator will be
made easy.
For the first time in it's history New
Jersey will have an opportunity to send
to the Senate the man for whom the
people may declare their preference. In
ever sense this is greatly to be desired.
The people are coming to axe more
interest in the primary than at any
time hitherto. This 10 fortunate. The
primary Is the real source of all poiiti-
cal power. In many cases a nomina-
tion Is equivalent to an election, and 1t
Is vital to republican government that
the people control the primary cleo
tions.
For myself I strongly favor strength
ening the present primary laws and
their extension to the nomination OF
member of Congress and the Governor.
The Blanket Ballot.
Forty-two States in the Union use
the form of ballot known as the
blanket ballot" That is a ballot upon
Mhich is found the names of all candi-
dates. There are two classes of. these
ballots, namely, the Massachusetts ball
lot. which d~isregards all party col
umns, on the ticket, and the Wisconsin,
form, which recognizes party columns
and permits the voting of a straight
ticket by simply putting a cross i'll q
circle at the head of the respective
party columns urder the party caption
Parties exist in this country, anq
have always existed since o govern
ment took on q written constitutions
form. 1t is doubtful II parties VIII ever
cease to exist, and it Is equally doubt
full whether 1t Is wise hat they should
Parties are presumed to stand forNcer-
) tain principles, and II a voter who be-
lieves in the principles for which c
: party stands finds upon the ticket o.
{ that party the anne of men for office
/ oil of whom are in his estimation I'm
Objectionable, 1 can see no reason fol
refusing to allow him the right to vot'
a straight ticket by simply placing {
cross In a circle at the head of a part,
7 column on the ticket.
The essential thing is q form Of bal
t lot upon which shall be found all thu
e candidates of all the parties, 80. tina
:. each voter may have before him ever.
Z candidate for office on a single piec'
Of paper. These ballots should be fur
: nished and distributed. to the voters b.
: the State. The clerk Of the count.
I should print the official ballot ass
d present, and the election officers. whel
n the last revision Of the registry is cora
pleted, should be required to send +
each voter at his place of residence a
shown on the registry revision on
g copy of the official ballot. TIL
y clerk should also furnish TO the cleo
y ton officers the requisite number o
y ballots for use ON election day at til
polling place.
y No need should remain for the us
of money by candidates or parties o.
n election day, or before, in the matter Q
= getting the ballots into the hands G
the voters.
Q The necessary stamped envelopes "a
y distributing the ballot should be SUP
piled by the county to the ielectio
boards, n reasonable compensate
y should be paid the election officers 70
doing the work.
Money at Elections. :.
The use of money at electione, whetl
or primary or general. should in som
way be curtailed. The custom Of PAL
ties to. raise and distribute. at eiectto
10 time. large sums of money Is injurtou
to public morality. and tends to COZ
10 ruption, not only in the voter, but l
public affairs:
: . IL re-~~ A1.vl - go e~o..1