The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-10-31
Proposed By Initiative Petition.
EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENT.

MENT.
Providing that grand juries, in inves.,
.igat:ns elections, may open ballot
BOXES. compel the production of regtstra.
sion Iis:s, voting lists and tally sheets;
providing for trials on indictments re-
surned in such Investigations; prescribing
the manner Of selection and the quaiifca-
lions Of election officials; requiring po-
polling places in certain cities and pre-
scribTg the manner OF voting therein
Proposed amendment to the Constitu
tun OF Missouri, to he submitted to the
legal voters thereof, for their approval or
= lection. at the regular general election
10 be held on Tuesday, the fifth day of
November. A. y. 1872, and empowering
aliltcd in elections, to return indictments
thereon. and providing for the trial upon
Such indictments in the courts; also pro-
TiLing for the manner OF conductlL3 elec-
lions, the duties of officers and voters
with reference thereto. and the uualif1ca-
lions and selection of judges and clerks
# election throughout the state ana IN
cities of 25,o00 Inhabitants or more.
Section J. The ballot shall remain Sc
c'"l in Missouri, but where crime has
yren committed in any election secrecy
,ila yield to Justice, and no impeachment
shall be placed in the way OF the de
lection, lloserutiol aud CONVICTION OF the
guilty. The investigation of all elections
in which il is sought to open ballot boxes
10 srHrrn q crime, s.luN he conducted by
grand jay composed OF competent, IN
,ciliSo!Il citizens uf high moral charac-
ter. such ssranu july shall have power
to cCInpel the production of registration
lists, voting lists. tally sheets and all
documentary evidence of every kind,
also to compel the production of ballot
i'oXes. to open the same and examine the
oaln.s; also to subpoena witnesses and
lakc their tcslimony; also to compare any
part oi tn" evidence, oral, written or print
' it,,p, avid Ia,
voters my gate under oath what their
balnts WI" rs voted. The Juy, grand
or petit. SAnli decide under In" Jaw and
al. the i,rts whether on not ballots have
been wulilly ami knowingly ,ampered
With, ur changed, or misrr;d, or falsely
counted, OF false ballots placed in their
stead. Upon any indictment returned a
speedy public trial shall be had and the
ballots and documentary and oral evil
dence considered by the grand jury. and
other competent evidence. may be intro
duced in the trial under the rules of law.
a grand jury, for the investigation of
elections above provided, shall be
called in each county and in amy city
with government independent of the
the state empowered by law TO call grand
eral election, or il a judicial circuit or
district is composed of several counties |
after. Such grand jury shall take the
place of regular annual grand jury, |
now provided for by law to investigate
elections and for other purposes, and |
ers as to investigations and the indict-
ment of offenders for felonies and mis-
possessed by regular grand
jury. 1t is hereby made the imperative
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
and individuals Of the very high
est moral character to be found shall be
selected Neither poverty. nor wealth,
nor magnitude of business, nor profess
sional callings however exalted. shall eN-
use the citizens unless serious injury
would result, but druggists and physi-
clans may be excused If they demand it.
All Judges and clerks of elections in
titles above $4,000 inhabitants shall hold
heir offices for a specified term, and
shall be examined thoroughly as to their
qualifications. Any election commission
+ or other officer charged with the Sc
ection of election officials who shall ia
o make dilgent search for men of gom
or who shall willfully pass IL,
men of good character, and knowin;, 1
select persons of bad reputation as elcr-
In all cities of $4,000 in
labitants or more two competent judges 4
md one competent clerk OF high mora
character shall be chosen for each pre- {
.inct from the city at large, and VIII
10 not reside in the precinct for whicn
hey are chosen. These. with the tw' .
Judges and one clerk chosen from the
,recinct, shall constitute the judges and
md clerks shall be equally divided H. ,
ach precinct between the two political
arties having the largest number {" 7
otes in the state as shown by the las,
General election. In every precinct III | =
UGH cities there shall be stationed tw'
olcemen, one outside and one inside \
he booth, who shall protect all election on
nd others. and who. for willful failure 1
o do so. shall be adjudged guilty, OF a I
Wherever registration is
ign his name on the registration book. d
nd when he comes to vote he shall again n
Ign his name opposite his number on
he poll book. and the election officers Z
otter cannot sign his name then he shall +
lake his mark In the usual way on the
,gistration book. duly attested in writ
, whom he is known. and when any in
lvidual offers to vote under such name
le judges may determine from the ties. Y
mony Of the attesting witnesses. or II
icy cannot be produced then from other ii
roof. whether or not he is the same n
erson who made his mark on the regis y
alton book, and in voting he shall again II
axe MS marx atteSteu as dDONc re- a
Tired. II any person signs any other 2
ian his true name in registering or vot- Z
g he shall be adjudged guilty OF forg,, b
y and punished as may be prescribed
: statute. Every political party and a.
,ery body Of citizens organized for the h
lrpose Of passing any constitutional -
nendment shall be entitled to a repre- 81
ntative inside Of the booth to watch 8,
u balloting and counting. and in addf- =,
On thereto shall also be entitled to one 81
Where 1t Is provided herein fe
at violation Of any provision of this a,
nendment shall be q misdemeanor the a.
lnishment shall be fixed by statute. II b,
e offender II q regular official he shall.
'on conviction. forfeit his office, and he
~ be prosecuted under this amendment
ID his Office forfeited Independent Of
y statute. The word election a. used
rein shall b construed to mean any ar
Iction. general or special. whether IL
lts, county Or municipal including any
lmayy election, held under the law.
- anendment shah be ssif -enforcinG. 4
{ 1eg1slation may be enacted to facili-
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