The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18

men of moderate means seeking public offices.
 | In addition to these expenses, every loandldate is subjected to constant ap- peals from every form of charity com
 mittees seeking donations for the con-
 struction and repair of schools, churches | and buildings dedicated to religious and
 charitable purposes never overlook the
 candidate, or fail to suggest that e lib-
 eral contribution is expected, and with
 ell these demands there is the implied
 suggestion that failure to respond lib- orally may seriously jeopardze his suc-
 cess at the polls.
 Another serious objection to the pri-
 mary system in Alabama is that no
 method has been adopted to prevent the
 voters of one party from participating
 in nominating candidates for the party | they expect to oppose in the general
 erection. Ours is government by par | ties, and the men nominated by the prim-
 aries are usually those selected for public
 office. Hence the people are deeply con-
 cerned in the method by which such nom- nations are made and the necessity of
 securing fair and honest expression of
 a party's will The candidate nominated | ls supposed to be the choice of major
 ity of lis own party and hence members
 of the opposing party should have no
 voice in his selection or the power to dic | tate his nomination.
 | Campaign Canards
 {, Experience has also shown that con-
 test for a nomination before primary
 frequently engenders more bitterness and
 acrimony than a struggle between oppos- ling political parties. Oftimes publications /, without any basis In truth, but which re- fleet upon the character and honor of a
 candidate, are industriously circulated
 during the closing hours of a campaign
 These publications, inspired by malice ] and degraded by the basest islanders, are generally without the signature of any
 responsible author. The candidate thus
 maligned and traduced is without rem .edy. His morality and integrity may be Easey assailed by covert and cowardly attacks the. authorship Of which is con- ceaied, and he is without any legal rem | edy for the attempted assassination of | his character. The closing days of the campaign are the favorite time for the petty political bushmen to emerge from | the foul recesses of their obscurity and | lying in wait to shoot their puny arrows, dipped with the poison of islander and l hate. ,ys The present laws in reference to the re- | port of the expenses of candidates arc utterly insufficient and should be amend cd so as to include not only the account l of the candidate. but of his campaign | committee and of all other persons who txpend money on his behalf Some states provided that these accounts should be published in advance of the election, and
 l submit to your Judgment whether or | not such a system should be adopted in Alabama.
 l therefore recommend:
 | l. That provision be made for the en- 'ollment of party voters throughout the state, and that participation in primary elections be limited to the enrolled party voters, with stringent provisions to pre- vent fraud.
 ?. That the expense of holding primary | elections. including printing of official
 ballots, providing polling places, be | borne by the public.
 g. That a corrupt practice act be enacted in line with the experience of this and the other states, to guard against the excessive and improper use of money
 and undue influence. That the expenses which may be lawfully incurred by a can didate for nomination be prescribed and a better system for insurng publicity of all expenses be adopted
 4. That the amount which may be ex- pended by candidate for nomination be | limited
 D. That 1t be made unlawful to write, rrint, or circulate through the mails or otherwise any letter or circular. bill or postal relating to any candidate, unless
 the same shall bear on it's face the name
 and address of the author, owner, printer CT publisher thereof
 6. To make the author and every person
 printing and knowingly assisting in the
 circulation of any letter. circular postal
 or bill containing any false statement or
 charges refecting on any candidates
 character. morality or integrity, guilty
 of political criminal libel, with suitable punishment
 Defense of such alleged libed shall be
 proof on trial that person charged had
 reasonable ground to believe such charge
 to be true; and that the author or other
 person charged with such libel shall also prove that at least 15 days before such letter, circular postal, bill or placard
 containing such false statement was printed or circulated, he or they caused
 to be served personally or in person,
 upon the candidate to whom it relates,
 ! copy thereof in writing, calling his at
 tention particularly to the charge con- tained therein, and that before printing or circulating such charges he received
 and read any denial, defense or explana- tion; if any was made in writing by the accused candidate, within ten days after the service of such charge upon the &C., cused person.
 z. Prevent all undue influence or intimi- dation at a primary or general election. 8. The circulation of anonymous publi- cations affecting candidates for office should be prohibited under proper penal- ties, and requirements should be made that all campaign documents affecting a candidate should be when published in newspapers, upon the responsibility of the proprietor and publisher or should bear the signature of the person or polit- ical committee issuing the same g. To prevent the use of badges, or any effort to influence the action of q voter on the day of a primary election. 10. To prevent the serving of food or drink to any voter, or the payment of his
 expenses for loss of time in attending such election. t ,s.a s..t Il. To prevent the employment of work
 CTS on the day of such election. t-A Forest Legislatfon F I believe that the rapid destruction of
 our forests makes it our duty to promote
 wise forest legislation.
 In my judgment the greatest need of
 the state in this matter Is a technically trained state forester, who should super- wise and control the work of forest fire protection throughout the state, give ad- vice to lumbermen, timber land owners and farmers as to the care of forests.
 and to distribute information generally to the people of the state on this, subject.
 Y might be wise to either exempt or put