The Forrest City times., 1912-09-06
ROBINSON PLAYS NEW ELECTION LAW Scores Act Number 3 Which He Declares Can Result On-
 ly In Corruption. HE ALLEGES HYPOCRISY Declares for Womans Suffrage if Women Want it and Discusses
 Other Issues.
HE ALLEGES HYPOCRISY

tive duQItuCe 10 near HlHl OH August 2Sth at Walnut Ridge, Lawrence coun- ty. He made a great speech. Dwell ing upon the changes in the State election laws, contemplated under
 Proposed Act No. 3,
 which was initiated under process of Republican petitions, Mir. Robinson said:
 The Republican platform declares for Act No. 3, and Mir. Roland. the Republican nominee for governc-, strongly urges it's adoption. l am ur- qualifiedly opposed to the passage Of this measure. Whatever may have been the purpose of those who init lated it, it's adoption will be a menace to fair elections in Arkansas, and, ;n my judgment, 1t will invite and eh- courage the grossest frauds. Let me expose one feature of the bill that no fair-minded man can approve.
 Proposed Act requires that the State Board of Election Commission CTS shall choose the County Election Commissioners from lists of three names each furnished by the chairman of the Democratic State Central Com mitte and the chairman of the Sta Q Republican Central Committee. It also provides that the County Election Commissioners shall select the elec- tion judges from similar lists fur nisaed by the chairman Of the CouH. ty Republican Central Committee Where there is no county organiza- tion. the State chairman will furnish the list of judges for his party.
 This clearly places the power Of appointing the election officers in the chairmen of the Democratic and the State Republican Committees and of the corresponding officers of the re spectiye county committees for said parties. Tho only discretion allowed the State Board of Election Commis- sioners is a choice from the lists of three names each furnished by the respective chairmen. The proposed act does not require that the chairman furnishing any list shall be sworn. It imposes no obligation on him wha. ever 10 act fairly or honestly. If he acts otherwise, no penalty is pre-. scribed and none can be imposed The opportunities for fraud which this act affords are unlimited Many i'm portant questions aside from the choice of officers will be determined In the September election and in all general elections hereafter. Concern ing some of them, fierce contests have arisen. Great interests are in volved. Under such circumstances it is inconceivable that any intelligen. person would favor Act No. ,. which will deliver the control of elections to those party representatives who are not officers that are sworn before assuming their duties 10 select of ficers to hold the election. Let ma illustrate; If Act No. were in force. the State chairman for the Democrat ic party and for the Republican par ty could get fortune for permitting someone interested in the passage or defeat of the Turner-Jaeobson bill. or the passage or defeat of Statewide Prohibition in return for tho privil. ege of suggesting the County Election Commissioners, and no offense would be committed under Act No. 3, If this were done. The same would be true as to the selection of judges. Re sponsibility would be divided and cor ruption would become inevitable.
 Tho Democratic party has enacted election laws which in the main. are fair. said in the campaign prelim mary to ths primary, and I repeat Y now. that our election laws should he amended at least in one particular. The State Board Of Election Comnis sioners should be organized so that no officer who is candidate u,v have tho power to participate In nam. tas the election officers who hold the elections before which he is a candidate. The present method in this particular unauestionahly affords on. portunity for frauds and combina. tions, both in the primaries and in general elections, and should be amended
 Representatives of the Republican party arc hypocri.ical when they pre- tend to favor fair elections. They have deliberately committed frauds In State and National election. throughout the history of the Repub. lican party.
 Tn 1871 the Republican partv passed an act in this State which was the means of more corruption and op. pression during the few years that i, vas in force than has occurred under Democratic administration since Ark. snsas was admitted to the Union.
 Under the Republican election law or Arkansas. the County Assessor 'repared the registration list and al. ni;ted such persons as he found cual. lied. denying registration 10 all ex IFnnfAhnFlfaH