The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-05-08
BUSINESS LIKE ELECTIONS

with reference TO general elections.
Mr. McMahan is an ideaIist. although
II must be said that his ideals are
high and his purpose lofty and his
life In keeping with those ideals. But
he is, we fear, too far in advance of
the times. 1t was he who in the con-
stitntional convention as far back as
1895 wished TO have an ordinance
along the line of what Is now com
monty known as "eugenics"-$ pre-
vent the marriage iof good. pure
woman to any man mentally and
physically disqualified for the sacred
home relation. 1t cannot be said
that he was wrong. hut that the world
was not ready to accept such d theory
And so 1t Is. we fear, today. We adj
nit that we see no bug boo in the
proposition. Nearly every poor man I'm
the country is registered, IL not the
registration machinery is in the
hands of good men who can and will
issue certificates to any white man
who has lived within the state long
enough to qualify. AS matter of
fact tho men who would be "disfran-
chised, as some have seen fit to put
1t, are the socalled "rich," who
through business cares or for other
reason have failed to get registered
or have misplaced their certificates.
We see no harm in the registration
plan, but we do not think it necessary
or expedsenR atlt this time. " il will
hays,to conie some dAy,.and we have
thought tnis3foFsa long time.s
Something must Hs done to- make
the primary moro business likes That
is the only short coming today. The
poll lists are locked up in ,het boxes
with the club rolls and brought to
the court, house and there they re-
main for months, and when the time
comes every second year for another
primary those old club lists are hard
to find.
We believe that what should be
done is merely to conduct the elet-
tionB In a business like manner
There Is enough law on the, statute
books to prevent or to punish fraud
IL that law was ever appealed to. The
governor OF the state offered a large
reward two years ago for evidence
to. convict and We have never heard
Of anyone making claim for that re-
ward.
We BELIEVES that, all OF the people
would accept regulations which would
put the primaries on business basis.
Have the club secretaries and execu-
tive committeeman TO enroll on the
club lists every white man living
within the geographical lines or the
Ee6neatiyaEnrRciDs iDsts.a anIlE nnng5 nut
side. Give ample notice 30 thstr;:.;- That ;:::S !
resident may see tnat his name is
properly enrolled. Let none be over
looked. Then close the lists, say Is !
days before the first primary and
let no name be enrolled, except upon |
the sworn statement OF the applicant |
for membership in the club that he |
is lawfully entitled to vote there. If !
he makes false statement, he can be |
prosecuted for perjury and for VIOLA
tion OF the election laws, and the fore |
knowledge of a few stiff fines will |
prevent anything of that kind. Let
the club rolls be sworn to by the
club secretary and approved by the
county executive. committee. and let
the club executive comittee be pres
ent at the polls to assist the managers
In settling any knotty questions.
The managers OF the election are |
not appointed arbitrarily by the coun-
ty executive committee, but by the
executive comitteemen of the respec-
tive clubs, and this is local self gov
ernment.
But we think 1t absolutely wrong |
for any one to vote in a club other
than in the one nearest to his place
of residence. For instance, suppose
in one county there should be close |
ELECTION and In another there should |
be none. County lines being so nearly
invisible, what would prevent man
in one county Joining club just
across the line and voting in the
close election.
In brief, our opinion is that the less
that Is done to the election rules, tho
better It will be. Instead of making
the rules complicated and making the
right to vote difficult. let the people
have plain, clear. explicit rules to go
by. Let men vote In the boxes where
they are known. Let no suspicious
strangers come In. There is now
enough law as to the use of liquor and