Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-23

than to have to travel Augusta from Kent Kery
Passport So far as candidates concerned say
that every county sufficiently close
there legislative for every district there
twenty every there fifty On the
of convenience Expense therefore the argument unor
una chosen The proposed law egates for the exception not the
rule convenience and pockebooks of the
We prepared that reasonable
possible remedy whatever inconvenience may
exist the case of county, district provision
application justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and the
veng such Justice discretionary power after notice and
hearing part all of the ballots forwarded the County
Court House the State House. as the may be- and there
supervision and direction of the with
equitable the of be of several
possible We by recommend advocate it the
ony or preferable satisfactory solution To work
thing while along this line demands precisely what the pro-
did receive namely careful consideration public
hearing and the benefit spread advice and criticism The
essy for any such legislation is seriously questionable in any event
But the suggestion many others which might be made
infinitely preferable the mushroom piece of legislation under
consideration.
FIFTH An instance of clerk permitting
diate absence other paw over the ballots which
were the table and chairs and on the floor
Just sending of the ballots the secretary of state
would prevent similar the office of that official not
reader The proposed does
safeguard this by providing for notice opposing candidates
before permitting inspection Such provision if deemed
enacted with proper penalties clerks and there no
clerk would violate such law, and that
secretary of would 3=# @fz#-a - - aa
We stated fairly and fully every argument urged
in the legislature for the adoption of this law But there more to be
First of ALL the proposed law fundamentally The Cons
of Maine imposes upon city clerks in all state elections
the duty of making record the polls and meeting OF the re-
suit of the of ballots copy of that record must be atested by
the municipal officers and clerks and forwarded the Secretary
of State These constitutional requirements and be altered
by The ballots election vouchers for the
of the Constitutional record The proposed law compe the
clerks surrender those vouchers the Secretary of State there
by parting with the evidence which proves their record to be
Again the opportunities for fraud enormously multiplied by the
proposed If clerk goes wrong his capacity for
chief very limited But secretary of state his deputy
his office clerk coeeof consprator the of the public
about the task of fraudulent manipulation what magn
opportunity the offers Given close election and the adj
don of viang mark ballot here there and skill
full distribution similar knavey the ballots OF with
but change each and the trick turned gvu
readily assemble all of the election officials all of the gen
ea public who witnessed the counting of the ballots polls
assembled the State House and the evidence prove
illegal tampeng with the ballots coespondngy difficult
produce REMEMBER THAT UNDER THE PROPOSED LAW
THE BALLOTS ARE SEALED Up IMMEDIATELY AFTER Be
ING COUNTED AND NEITHER THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS
TOWN CLERK, CANDIDATES. OR ANY MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC IS PERMITTED TO LOOK At THEM THEREAFTER
UNLESS THEY GO TO AUGUSTA FOR THAT PURPOSE.
ing the question under discussion Much might be said The
subject of fundamental Importance and have tried present
fairly and dispasonately.