Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-18

at least could have been prevented by
them, and to that extent they are charge
able with the responsibility therefor,
There is no doubt thai d certain proper
ton of the Irregularities could have been
prevented by the proper attention of the
members of the respective boards of regis
try and election to their duties. There
We're numbers of cases where certain OF
the election officials appeared to the com
mittee to have been honest In their In
tentions, but, nevertheless, seriously un-
appreciative of their full duties and ex-
seedingly negligent In their performance
of them.
Tho committee found registry and poll
books with discrepancies in the totals of
names. confiiction in the certificates at the
end of the books, certificates in various
IN stauces unsigned, ignorance OF the cleo
ton laws. and a general ineficiancy. Some
Of the election officers were apparently
easily dominated by one member Of the
p~rerogatives as their lnty required, too
readily submitted to the dictation Of one
member OF donineerins personality, who
wilfully violated the law during the
Progress of the registration and election.
In one instance two embeis of the cleo
ton board actually left their post of duty,
one of them returning several hours later
and the other one not at. all. Men Tiho
had been placed on the board Of rtgistry
and election for the ,irst time yielded
upon many questions to the members v'ho
had previously served, in5taa1 of knowing
or finding out the law for themselves.
1t il a fact developed iy the evidence
hat numerous city employees of Atlantic
City holding their positions through the
were actively engaged during election in
the carrying on of many Of the illegal
practises which have nerited not only
extreme eensure but punishment hy the
prosecuting authorities. tho committee
has furnished to The grand Jury q com
plete copy OF the evidence taken before
ing said grand Jury m ITS deliberations
over the cases brought to its attention
through the testimony given before the
committee.
Crime Against Liberty.
A crime against the ballot is Il crime
against the l.beIties of the people. No
really free government can exist where
the choice OF the people concerning who
shall govern them IS intsrferel with In
any way, or their choice nullifed hy the
criminal acts of those who would rule re
CARELESS of the will of the people. Cnless
we can first have a free and honest cleo
ton of those who are 10 make our laws
and enforce them all other efforts to
secure and maintain or liberties must
prove futile. The purity of the ballot Is
a fundamental necessity of a democracy;
not only should the franchise be pro-
tected by every. conceivable method to in
sure a fair vote and q fair count, but
there shorld be a vigorous prosecution and
speedy and adequate punishment for
everyone, be he of whatever estate, who
attempts to debauch the machinery hy
which the free will OF II li~lerty-loving
people is expressed.
The committee believes that the reforms
proposed in the election laws of this State
as embodied in the ~iegislati IN now pending
will. IL enacted into law, lake impossible
most of the Irregularities and frauds
brought to light by the recent inyestiga-
ton in Atlantic county. The committee
therefore makes GO recommendation Upon
that subject except 20 sug sast the neces-
sity of the immediate enactment of such
legislation. 1t may be further suggested,
however, that adequate laws are of little
avail unless faithfully aud fearlesslv en-
forced. prosecutions ,or violations vigor-
ously conducted and PUNISHMENT mace
swift and sure. The az ,hcies Of the
county government VINO hayo The power
to indict. to prosecute dl1 IL punish for
cri ne against the ballot nave il grave re-
spcnsibility resting upon them. II 1T be
found that such Agencies neslcct or Ietuse
to perform their duties, or that they ale
actually controlled by those who stand
deserving of convection end punishment at
tt.ctr hands, then new agencies sllotld lie
invoked TO maintain the integrity of the
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