Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1912-10-25

limit the initiative ana referendum pow
ers reserved by the people.
Proposed BY Initiative Petition.
EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENT. !
Providing that grand Juries, In Inves.
tIgating elections, may open ballot
boxes, compel the production o. regissTa-
ton lists, voting lists and tally sheets;
providing for trials on indietments re-
turned In such Investigators; prescribing
the manner OF selection and the qualifica-
tions OF election officials; requiring po-
licemen to be stationed In and near
scrlbing the manner OF voting therein.
Proposed amendment to the Constitu-
tion OF Missouri, TO be submitted TO the
rejection, at the regular general ciectlon
to be held on Tuesday. the fifth day OF
| November. "a. D.. 1912, and empowering
| grand juries TO investigate ofenses COM
mitted in elections, TO return indictments
thereon, and providing for the trial upon
! such indictments in the courts; also pro-
yiding for the manne of conducting elec-
! tons, the duties OF officers and voters
with reference thereto, and the qualiica-
tions and selection of Judges and clerks
Of election throughout the state ana IN
cities Of 25 900 inhabitants or more.
Section l. The ballot shall remain se-
~ CIGI u VI ~ u ~ -
been committed in any election secrecy
shal yield to justice, and no impeachment
shall be placed in tne way OF the de-
/ lection, prosecution and conviction of the
guilty. The Investigation Of all elections
in which 1t is sought to open ballot boxes
In search of -cfdme shall be ny
a grand jIry composed OF competeht, IN
ter. Such grand jury shall have power
to COW pei the production OF registration
lists, voting lists. tally sheets anu an
documentary evidence OF every klnu.
also to compel the production OF. ballot
boxes, to open the same and examine lie
ballots; also to subpoena witnesses and
take their testimony; also to. conpare any
ed, with any other part OF the evidence.
Voters may state under oath what their
ballots were as voted. The JUICY, grand
or petit, shall decide under the law and
all the iacts whether or not ballots have
been wIllfulIy and knowingly Iamperec
with, or changed, or misread, or falsely
counted, or false ballots placed IN lhelr
stead. Upon any indictment returned a
speedy public trial Shall be had, and the
ballots and documentary and oral eVl,
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 nyestigaton OF
elections as above provided, shall .pe
called In each county and in any. CITY
with q government independent OF the
county, by the several judges Throughout
the state empowered by law to call, grand
I 1ur1eS, WllDIn thirty udyS dltti az bSh7
eral election. or If a judicial circuit OF
district Is composed OF several counties,
then at the next term of the court there
after. Such grand any shall take the
place of a regular annual grand jury
now provided for by law to investigate
,lectiuns and for other purposes, and
when convened shall possess all the pow
ers as TO Investigations and the indlct-
Incnt OF offenders for felonies and mis-
d~enaeanors possessed by a rcgular grand
jay. 1t is hereby made the imperative
duty Of the judge of the court 10 speciiG-
gate the preceding general election, OF
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 shan
owe II TO the state to act as election
officials, and individuals Of the very high
est moral character to be found SHAH be
selected. Neither poverty, nor wealth
nor magnitude of business. nor profes'
sional callings however exalted, shall eX-
cuse the citizens unless serious injury
would result, but druggists and physi-
clans may be excused if they demand IT.
An Judges and clerks of elections II
cities above %, 900 inhabitants shall hole
their offices for a specified term, ant
shall be examined thoroughly as to then
qualifications. Any election commission
err or other officer charged WIN ti2 So
lection of election officials who sd5il la
80 make iligeut search for men OF Sopt
character, or who shall willftilly pass W
yaen of good character, and knowingly
select persons of bad reputation as cleo
ton officials, shall he deemed guilty OF {
misdemeanor. In all cities of 5000 In
habitants or moro two competent judges
aud one competent clerk OF high mora
character shall be chosen Tor eaoa pre-,
do not reside in the precinct Tor wnlef
the.- are chosen. These, with the tW'
Judges and one clerk chosen from tht
precinct, shall constitute the judges ant
clerks for such precinct, and al judge
and clerks shall be equally divided II
each precinct between the two politica
parties having the largest number %
Votes in the state as shown by the las
general election. In every precinct II
such cities there shall be stationed tw.
policemen. one outside ana one y ansio'
officials, c~hallengers, watchers voter,
and others, and who, for willful failure
to d. so, shall be adjudged guilty OF /
misdemeanor. Wherever registration i
required the person who registers ,shal
sign his name on the registration BOOK
and when he comes to vote ne snail agar
the poll book, and the election officer
may compare the signatures. II I'M
, voter cannot sign his name then ne snai
make his mark ip the way on ~
registration book, duly a%ttested IN writ
ing by two or more reputable witnesses
TO whom he Is known, ana when any ln,
dividual offers to vote under sucn mann
the Judges may determine from the tes
timony Of the attesting witnesses, or ]
. they cannot be produced then from othe'
proof. whether or not he Is the san'
/. perso7 who made his mark on the reSls
tration book, and in voting he shau agar
make his mark attested as above re
ouired. II any person signs any othe
than his true name in registering or vot
ing he shall be a%djudged guilty OF torS-
cry and punished as may be prescrlbe'
by statute. Every political party an'
every body of citizens organized LOT TN
purpose OF passing n constitutions
amendment shall be entitled TO a repre-,
sentative inside of the booth to watcl
the balloting and counting, and IN aedl
ton thereto shall also be entitled TO on
challenger. Where 1t is provided hereli
that a violation of any provision or TIM
amendment shall be a misdemeanor tn
punishment shall be fixed by statute; 1
the offender is a regular ofilciol lie slali
upon conviction. forfeit his office, and M
NAV be prosecuted under this amendmen
and his office forfeited Independent o
any statute. The word election as uses
herein shall be construed to mean an.
election, general or special, .whethel
state, county or municipal, including an!
primary election held under. the law
This amendment shall he seif-enforclng
but legislation may be enacted to taciil
tate lis operation.
Section III. Any constitutional pro
vision, or law, or part thereof in cenaic
with This amendment Is hereby repealed