El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-16

ANAE Inc projection OF the DAllO
w against gross abuses has been
the subject of legislation from the
time that men first had votes. As far
back as the time when Columbus dis
I covered America such offences against
the suffrage as bribery. intimidation,
ana treating were punishable under
the common law and by that time there
began 10 be written into the English
statutes full definitions of these Of
| fences. Americas first corrupt prac-
tees laws came by way of jamestown
and Cape Cod. and our best recent
laws are modelled after England's pres
ent statutes.
A large number of the states have
| enacted laws requiring publicity for
campaign expenditures and cOntribu-
tions. These laws possess widely vary
ing provisions, but all of them aim at
the same general purpose. 1t IS in
teresung 10 run down through the list
81 states and see some of the ways in
winch they attempt to protecr the
. purity of the ballot. Some of the
states have enacted a single law GOV =
erlnS the entire subject others have
SIMPLY amended and added to oh laws
from time TO time until their statutes
nave become something of Il chtch-
Aiabama's Poll Tax Law.
Alabama has provision which
makes II a penitentiary offence for
any person 10 pay another's poll tax.
poI tax receipt being a prerequisite
WINS any corporation OF en-
ployer in that state who threatens TO
cut down the pay or discharge any
employe in order TO influence his vote
is subject to a fine of $500. LIQUOR
may not be disposed of on the day Of
or the day before, an election. The
Alabama law provides for publicity of
contributions and expenses.
The Stringent Arizona Law.
When congress came to pass the
election law under which the territory
OF ARIZONA was governed, it put in
about the most stringent clause pos
sessed by any state or territory in the
Union. This provides that aIlowine.
ones ballot to be seen, or making
false statement as to ones inability to
make ballot, IS a criminal offence
punishable by a fine or imprisonment
Candidates contributions must be
made at meetings when none but can
dldates are present, and failure to file
a true statement Of receipts and ex-
pendltureS by candidate and those
who spend money or receive it for his
campaign, fOrfeits the election
A publicity law requiring the pub
LEGATION of contributions and expendi-
lures both before and after a primary
or an election, is a feature of the Ar
kansas legislation on the subject Of
ballot box protection In the primaries,
soliciting a donation from a candidate
or candidates offering contribu-
ton is an offence punisha BILE with q
fine of from So TO $500.
The California law is a rigid one.
be submitted after election, accom-
panied by vouchers for all sums of five
dollars and over. The only expenses
that may be incurred legally are those
OF holding public meetings, circulat-
ing campaign material. and looking
after registration, voting, and count
ing the ballots A candidate cannot
spend more than 500 for maintaining
headquarters and a committee cannot
spend more than $1,000 for that pur-
pose candidates in primaries can
not spend more than specified sums.
dependent on the size of the vote in
the preceding general election. Cor
porauonS attempting to influence the
votes OF their employees BY threaten
ing 10 smut down or reduce pay in the
event of the election of certain candi-
dates, forfeit their charters
In Colorado the legislature in 1909
passed an act limiting the expenditure
OF any candidate TO 40 per cont of the
first years salary of the office for
which he is a candida.a. The making
OF contrl buttons by others or by cor
porauonS IS a felony, as is also the
receiving OF such contributions by
candidate for office. Corporations at
tempting to influence the votes of
their employees by threats forfeit their
rlgnt TO do business in the state. Pub
hclty OF receipts and expenditures
after election is required
Inducing a voter to stay away from
the polls IS a m1Sdemeanor in COnnec-
Icut. In that state no person other
than a candidate may contribute TO the
campaign expenses except through the
regularly organized committees. and
corporations and judges are prohibited
from contributing at all Florida also
pFohlolts corporations from contrib
uting to campaign funds and fines both
the corporation and its officers for do
ing so. If the corporation is a do
nestle one such an act forfeits its
feits its right to do business in the
state. The Florida law also has a
stringent beforehand after ELECTION
publicity clause
Hawaii Has Stringent Law.
Even Hawaii has a stringent election |
law. There every candidate must fur
n1sh the inspectors with list of his |
workers the day before an election, !
and no other persons are permitted to I
work around a polling place on cleo !
ton day, except those giving their I
services gratuitOusly. Idaho limits I
the expenditure of a candidate to Is /
per cent of the first years salary OF /
the office to which he aspires In In /
diana inducing a person to mark his
ballot so that it may be identified is a 4
felony. In Iowa treating voters to 4
cigars around a polling place on cleo ]
lion day is a misdemeanor. A candi- /
late in Kansas may not distribute CT 4
CARS or liquor nor may he pay for such /
In Maryland keeping any
place where Intoxicating liquors or 4
yictuals are gratuit0usly dispensed on I
election day is an offence punishable ]
)y fine or imprisonment In that state
Al campaign matter published in
newspapers and periodicals shall be
designated ADVERTISING"
Massachusetts varies the general
-ule with reference to contributing
somewhat by limiting the |
to corporations having the
power to condemn land Several other
states have followed the lead of Mas
5achusetts m that direction. 1t is
also unlawful in the Bay state to pub
ish any paid campaign article with
1ut labelling il advertisement" In |
Michigan a priest or pastor trying I'M
July to influence the voting members
IF his flodk is liable to a fine or i'm
)risonmenC In Minnesota the law
avs wha- a candidate or a campaign
,Cmmittes may do and makes any
,ther practices unlawful All employ
RS are required to give a half holiday
N election day It is unlawful for
'andidafe to give any entertainment
within zen days of a primary, or with
n so days of an election, if such en-
ertainnent aims to influence votes.
n Mississippi campaign literature /
must Scar on the face of it the name !
f the author and that of the printer. :
n NJ ssouri offering to take less sal ,
ry or to repay a part thereof is a mis-
emSanor. Missouri also has a pub [
Icitr clause and a limit on the amount {
candidate may spend l.
Montana Fights Corruption.
a few years ago Montana shut down /
ont aoafnS cOrruDtiOn in elections I !