The Butler weekly times., 1912-10-10
Proposed BY Initiative Petition.
EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND.
MENT,

-iNT' SS'NS - 'O'NN- 'N"-''~
Providing that grand Iures, In invss,
ooxes. compe. the production Of regissra-
tion Ils.s, voting lists and tally sneets;
providing for trials on indictments re-
the manner of selection and the quaifica-
tlons Of election officials; requiring po'
icemen to be stationed In and near
polling places in certain cities and pre-
scrb;rg the manner ct voting therein.
Proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton Of Missouri. to be submitted to the
legal voters thereof, for their approval or
T. lection. at the regular general election
10 he held on Tuesday, the hfth day. OF
November y. -. 1912, and empowering
grand jurics to investigate offenSes COM
.nilied in elections, to return indictments
thereon and providing for the trial upon
such indictments in the courts; also pro-
viding for the manner OF conducting cleo
lions, the duties of officers and voters
with reference thereto, and the qualitca-
lions and selection of Judges and clerks
Of election throughout the state and in
cities of $4,000 Inhabitants or more.
Section L. The ballot shall remain Sc
cret in Missouri but where crime has
been committed in any election secrecy
shall yield to justice, and no impeachment
shall be placed in the way of the de-
lection, prosecution and conviction of the
guilty. The investigation of all elections
IN WIllcn IL Is sought 10 open DoACS
in search OF crime shall be conducted by
a grand jl.ly composed of competent, in
tclligent citizens of high moral charac-
ter. Such grana jury shall have power
to cclrpel the production of registration
lists. voting lists. tally sheets and all
documentary evidence of every kind:
also to compel the production of ballot
boxes, to open the same and examine the
oallu.S; also to subpoena witnesses and
take their testimony; also to compare any
part oi the evidence, oral, written or print
ed with any other part OF the evidence.
Voters may state under oath what their
ballots We're as voted. The jury, grand
or petit, shall decide under the law and
all the acts whether on not ballots have
been w.1fu!iy and knowingly tanlpered
WITH ur changed, or misread. falsely
counted. or false ballots placed in their
stead. Upon any Indictment returned a
speedy public trial shall he had. and the
ballots and documentary and oral evil
dence considered by the grand jury. ana
other competent evidence. may be intro
duceu in the trial under the rules Of law.
\ grand jury. for the investigation of
elections as above provided, shan he
with a government independent of the
county. by the several judges throughout
the state empowered by law TO call grand
eral election or if Judicial circuit or
district is composed of several counties,
then at the next term of the court there
after. Such grand jury shall take the
now provided for by law to Investigate
elections and for other purposes, and
when convened shall possess all the pow
ers as to Investigations and the indict-
ment of offenders for felonies and mis-
demeanors possessed by a regular grand
jury. 1t is hereby made the imperative
duty of the judge of the court to specific
ally charge such grand jury to investi
gate the preceding general election, or
he may charge them to investigate Of
tenders in other elections not barred
under the law by limitation.
Section II. Competent. persons who re.
ceive the protection OF the law shall
owe it to the state to act as election
officials, and individuals of the very high
est moral character to be found shall be
nor magnitude Of business. nor profes-
sional callings however exalted, shall ex-
cuse the citizens unless serious injury
would result, but druggists and physi-
All judges and clerks of elections in
cities above $4,000 inhabitants shall hold
their offices for specified term, and
Any election commission
er or other officer charged with the Sc
lection of election officials who shall fai
to make dfligent search for men of goot
men Of good character, and knowingl, |
select persons Of bad reputation as cleo |
tion officials, shall be deemed guilty Of
!nisdemeanor. In all cities Of $4,000 in
and one competent clerk of high moral
character shall be chosen for each pre-
cinct from the city at large, and whc
they are chosen. These, with the tw'
judges and one clerk chosen from the
precinct, shall constitute the judges and
clerks for such precinct. and all judges
each precinct between the two political
parties having the largest number, OF
votes in the state as shown by the last
General election In every prteeinGet twn ln
policemen, one outside and one inside
he booth, who shall protect all election
officials. challengers, watchers; s.}trs y9lers
o do so. shall be adjudged guilty. OF a
Wherever registration is
-equired the person who registers silaii
'ign his name on the registration pook,
'ign his name opposite his number on
he poll book. and the election officers
nay compare the signatures. II the
,oter cannot sign his name then he shail
make his mark in the usual way on the
egistration book, duly attested In writ
ng by two or more reputable witnesses
Q whom he is known. and when any IN.
he judges may determine from the tes.
inony Of the attesting witnesses or II
hey cannot be produced then from other
,erson who made his mark on the regis
ration book. and In voting he shall again
make his mark attested as above re-
uired. II any person signs any otner
han his true name in registering or vot-
ne he shall be adjudged guilty OF Iorg.
ry and punished as may be prescribeo
y statute. Every political party and
very body of citizens organized for the
urpose Of passing any constitutional
mendment shall be entitled to repre-
entative inside Of the booth to watch
he ballsting and counting, and In addi-
ion thereto shall also be entitled to one I
hallenger. Where it is provided herein
hat a violation Of any provision Of this
mendment shall be misdemeanor the
unishment shall be fixed BY statute; II
le offender II a regular official he shall. ,
pom conviction. forfeit his office, and he
lay Dc prosecuted under this amendmens i
ny statute. The word election as used r
erein shall be construed to mean y any
ate, county or municipal, Including any
rimary election held under the law.
his amendment shall be self reinforcing. Z
nt legislation may be enacted to facili-
Ito tts operation. In
eeotjon IN Any constitutional pro.
|nt60- lnW mart thnPaof IN CONFLICT Iu