The Glenwood post., 1911-04-29

president for mobilizing the troops on
the southern frontier would have been
the first to have called him a traitor
to his country had he allowed either
of the border battles to have been
fought without having our soldiers
there to keep the Mexicans on their
own side. incidentally. the peace ne
gotiations now pending have been
brought about through the influence Of
the administration g diplomatic repre-
sentatives at Washington.
Among other promises made by the
democrats last fall was one to enact
an efficient registration law; one that
would carry out the provisions of our
present primary law.
The senate has had the registration
bill under consideration for the last
week and is just completing its work
on the measure.
If Governor Shafroth was justified
in vetoing the one handed him by the
extra session of the last assembly he
would be justified were he to burn
this one without wasting time on n
veto message. 1t is drawn purely and
solely by the "Big Mitt'' of Denver
to prevent the unhampered operation
of the primary law. 1t is intended to
be an instrument wherein machines
can steal primary elections. Think of
these provisions and see if the average
candidate would stand any show at a
primary.
Primary registration must be done
at the office of the county clerk. but
any qualified voter can register twelve
names and the registration list cannot
be purged until after the primary has
been held. The machine could and will
employ men to register rooming house
names. The voting of these names
will be easy as the county clerk ap-
points the primary election officials
from lists handed him by the mashine.
After the primaries are over the Lists
can be purged.
About the incest scheme to beat II
primary law ever adopted.
Provision is made for taking atti-
davits but no provision is made that
Chey shall be kept as records. In fact,
che section requiring that all aHidav.ts
oe kept with the registration books
was eliminated. The poll books OF the
preceding election are the registration
cooks for the primary election save
that other names can be registered.
Let US consider the effect of this law
Two years ago an election was held
and the primaries for the coming cleo
Jions are drawing near. The poll
books are gotten out and busted. They
cannot be changed. In Colorado ID
per cent Of the population moves every
Two years. This gives the machines
the advantage of those names. An
new comers and those becoming of age
must go to the county clerks Office
to register for that primary. In the
meantime any one can register twelve
names. By the time primary day has
arrived the machine could control 80
per cent of that registration, major,-
ty seldom overcome.
After the primary the list can be
purged, but why purge it, the ma
chimes have nominated the men they
wanted the same as they have been
doing at conventions.
The bill is as infamous as any meas
ure ever proposed. The republicans
must continue to fight it and should
it ever receive Governor Shafroth s
approval it would be a good measure
upon which to try the referendum No
state can hope to have her best citi-
zenship aspire to office when sucn
laws as are proposed in this bill are
on her statute books.