The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-04-27


z t1e-r attacks On rEs rsgsssrzxz0H zc
and The e01xr1tuti01zl zze1dzen
s1hzlttec by TIE Dazocrz-s are on
! a part OF their czzsassn lJr the las
! sage q the sorzzlst slectioa Izx
} whirh Vii put All the machinery O
elections IL tie Ezn5s q TIE minorir,
parties wnieh for tnEs purpose hsvl
~sshcHz . rez1sness s0 forget thsir ri
IA differences and .1-n hands zgzins
the party il poEer
There : no logse Ii their assertion.
that the Democrats have passed I
registration At fo- The purpose d
c-stEznchising either Socialists or Re
pubiiczns, and their argument thai
Democrats Wis he registered while
il Etu Be impossible 10. Republicans
and Socialists 10 find the precinct
+ registrar. Is neither fair nor seasin-=.
No farmer or other resident OF z pre-
cinct 01tsIde tae cities. xhich noz
lave registration, Eill BE- appointed
as precinct registrar Unless he has
the standing and reputation in his
party and his neignb0EhOod for IN
tegrity and character 10 make him q
representative citizen. and the whole
sale indictment Of these men in zd
vance OF their appointment as crooks
and seoundreis Is not yery creditable
70 men possessing the intelligence Of
Dir. Nagle or Mr.. Geissler. The Per
centage Of honesty and integrity in
the Democratic party Is very prob
ably as hign As i is in either Of the
minority pa-ties. and the fact that
the Democratic party Is charged Rith
the possibility OF law enforcement
makes il certain that they will be
more particular in the enforcement Of
law tE2H would the members OF a par
ty that had no responsibilities. / sub
NIT then to the fair minded. thinking
people Of Oklahoma. that the registra-
ton act passed b. the special session
Of the legislature Is not an unusual
or partisan measure; that it IS as fair
10 the minorities as it IS to the ma
5oFity party; that taken in connection
With the other election laws II consti- |
tutes needed and desirable protec-
ton to the ballot; that it is enforcible |
in the courts. and that the rights of
the minority are carefully safeguard !
ed; that in It's provisions for the reg
istration Of all legal voters Of 1914. |
without effort on their part it re- /
duces TO the minimum the possibility |
Of excluding any legal voter from the
registration list, and that in order to I
insure his registration. no extra ef-
fort is required of a member of the
party that is not required
Of the man who desires to vote with
the Democratic party.
submit further that the proposed
amendment comes
clearly within the constitution of The
United States and its amendments.
and OF the supreme court decision in
he grandfather cases. and that in
state that provides so literally for
common school education, there is no
onger an excuse for flliterate and
gnorant voters, and that whatever
excuse may have obtained in the past
fully and properly covered by the
exceptions 70 the test. Republicans
-s well as Democrats have heretofore .
tood for the literacy test. 1t is in .
'peration in Republican as well as .
Democratic states, and there can be .
70 denial Of the fact that 1t would be .
etter for the body polite if it we're
igidly enforced in all the states. This :
.ate and this nation are governed by
Fritten constitutions and a written =
ode Of laws and no man ought to a
anticipate in its elections who is not
ble to read and understand the writ
IN constitutions and the laws and is
les upon which he is called to vote.
The other election measures pass
4 by the special session include the
ght for legally registered voter in 4
le precinct of the state to cast his
allot in another precinct Of the state
which he may happen to be on the
tie Of election. This law was pass |
primarily in the interest OF the
ayeling man and the railroad labor |
. It has worked successfully in
insas. and extends to a reputable |
'ment Of the electorate. a privilege |
Iich they dearly prize. |
Another Law was passed which /
anged the wording OF the old stat |
on tho submission Of initiative
estions and it takes from the gov
ior the discretion Of having these
tiers voted upon except al regu- L
election. This act was voted for
the Socialists in the legislature of
seemed at that time to meet the
'royal Of the leaders Of that party. .n 1l
iether it meets with their contin- n,
approval or not is immaterIaI for III
ss.41.., :