The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-09-06
ROBINSON FLAYS
NEW ELECTION LAW
Scores Act Number 3 Which He
Declares Can Result On
ly In Corruption.
HE ALLEGES HYPOCRISY
Declares for Woman's Suffrage il
Women Want It and Discusses
Other Issues.

Mr.. Robinson had fine and atten-
tive audience to hear him on 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, Mr.. Robinson
said:
"The Republican platform declares
for Act No. 8, and Mr.. Roland, the
Republican nominee for governor,
strongly urges its adoption. am uE-
qualifiedly opposed to the passage OF
this measure. Whatever may have
been the purpose OF those who init
lated 1t, its adoption will be menace
to fair elections in Arkansas, and, in
my judgment, it will invite and ell
courage the grossest frauds. Let me
expose oae feature of the bill that
no fair-minded man can approve.
Proposed Act requires that the
State Board Of Election Commission
ers shall choose the County Election
| Commissioners from lists Of three
names each furnished by the chairman
of the Democratic State Central Com
mite and the chairman Of the Sta e
Republican Central Committee. 1t
also provides that the County Election
| Commissioners shall select the cleo
ton judges from similar lists fur
nished by the chairman Of the Coun-
ty Republican Central Committee.
Where there Is no county organiza-
ton, the State chairman will furnish
the list of judges for his party.
This clearly places the power of
appointing the election officers In tho
chairmen Of the Democratic and the
State Republican Committees and OF
the corresponding officers Of the re-
spectiye county committees for said
parties. The only discretion allowed
the State Board Of Election Commits
sioners Is 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
1t imposes no obligation on him what
ever to act fairly or honestly. II he
acts otherwise, no penalty is pre-
scribed and none can be imposed
The opportunities for fraud which this
/ at aff0ras 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 1t
is inconceivable that any intelligent
person would favor Act No. 3, which
will deliver the control OF elections
to those party representatives who
are not officers that are sworn before
assuming their duties to select Of
ficers to hold the election. Let me
| illustrate: II Act No. were In force,
the State chairman for the Democrat
ic party and for the Republican par
ty could get a fortune for permitting
someone interested in the passage or
defeat OF the Turner-Jacobson bill, or
the passage OF defeat OF Statewide
Prohibition in return for the privi!-
eye of suggesting the County Election
Commissioners, and no offense would
be committed under Act No. 3, II 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.
THE Democratic party has enacted
election laws which, in the main. are
fair said In the campaign prelim
mary to the primary, and l repeat i
now. that our election laws should be
amended at least In one particular
The State Board of Election Commits
sioners should be organized so thai
no officer who is candidate NAV
have the power to participate in nam
ing the election officers who hole
the elections before which he Is s
candidate. The present method In thi'
particular unquestionably affords on
portunity for frauds and combina
tions, both In the primaries and II
general elections. and should b.
amended.
Representatives of the Republican
party are hypocritical when they pre-
tend to favor fair elections. The!
have deliberately committed frauds
n State and National elections
throughout the history OF the Repub
| lican party
I'm 1871 the Republican part,
passed an act In this State which wa
he means of more corruption and OF
preston during the few years that |
vas in io-ce than has occurred unde
Democratic administration since Ark
nsas was admitted to the Union.
Under the Republican election lay
or Arkansas, the County Assesso
repaired the registration list and al