The Van Buren press., 1912-09-07

! MT Robinson had line 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. 3, and Mr.. Roland, the
Republican nominee for governor,
strongly urges its adoption. | am M.
qualifiedly opposed to the passage OF
this measure. Whatever may have
been the purpose Of those who init
lated II, its adoption will be n menace
to fair elections In Arkansas, and, IN
my judgment, It will invite and cir
courage the grossest frauds Let me
expose one feature OF the bin that
no falr.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. II
also provides that the County Election
Commissioners shall select the cleo
ton Judges from similar lists fur.
uished by the chairman OF The Coun-
~ Republican Central Committee.
Where there Is no county organiza-
tion 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 CommIa'
sioners is a choice from the lists Of
| three names each furnished by the
respective chairmen. The proposed
act does not require that the chairman
furnishing any listu shall be sworn.
II imposes no obligation on him wha..
ever to act fairly or honestly. II he
acts otherwise, no penalty Is Pre-,
! scrlbed and none can be imposed.
The opportunities for fraud which THE
act affords are unlimited Many I'm
poriant questions aside from the
choice OF officers win be determined
IN the September election and IN al
general elections hereafter. Concern.
Ing some OF them, fierce contests
have arisen. Great interests nre IN.
voyed. Under such circumstances II
is inconcelyablc that any Intelligent
person would favor Act No, 8, which
will deliver the control OF elections
to those party representatives. who
are not officers that are sworn before
assuming their duties 10 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.
~ could get n fortune for permitting
someone Interested In the passage or
defeat OF the Turner-Jacobson blll or
the passage or defeat Of Statewide
Prohibition in return for the prIyll'
ege OF suggesting the County Election
Commissioners, and no oftoneo would
be committed under Act No 3, " this
were done. The same would be true
as 10 the selection OF Judges Re-
sponsIbIllty would be divided and cor
ruptIon would become inevitable
"Tho Democratic party has enacted
election laws which, IN the main, are
fair. said In the campaign prelm'
Inary TO the primary, and ! repeat !
now, that our election laws should bo
omendcd ut least In one particular.
The State Board OF Election Commits
sloners should DO organized 80 that
no officer who In candidate ~
have the power 10 participate In nam
Ing the election officers who hold
the elections before which he ls q
candidate. The present method In thls
particular unquestIonnbly affords Oh
portunIty for frauds and comblnn'
tIons, both In the primaries and In
general elections, and should be
amended.
Representative OF tho Republican
party are hypoorItloNl when they pre-
tend 10 favor fair elections, They
have deliberately committed frauds
IN state and National elections
throughout the history OF the Repub-
lican party
I'm 1871 Tho Republican party
passed an act In this slAto which was
the means Of more corruption and op'
preseIon during the few years that II
was In force than has occurred under
Democratic administration since Arh'
.nsae was admitted II tho Union,
"undor the Republican election law
tor Arkansas, the County Assessor
prepared the registration list and All
mil ted such persons as he found quail
flied, denying registration 10 all ey'
conrcdcra,ce, The governor was ON
powered to act aside any registration