Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-05

sentatiVos, and made the appointment
or such representatives mandatory
yet this Is now strenuously condemned
as undemocratlc 10y some Democrat
offischoldcrs, some OF whom voted
for the enactment OF the law.
The above law, with minor eNccp-
uons, was In force I'm Oklahoma ter
ritory until the advent of statehood
as is evidenced by section 2920 OF ,h,
general statutes of oklahoma of 1919
winch Is as follows;
The governor Of the territory
and two Qualified electors. 10y him
appointed. one from each Of the
two political parties that cast the
largest votes in the territory At
the preceding general election,
shall constitute "A territorial board
of election commissioners. Such
appointment shall be made at
least thirty days previous to oacn
general election, and If. prior to
that time the chairman of the
territorial central committee OF
either of such parties shall nomi-
nate, in writing, member of his
own party for such appointment.
the governor of the territory shall
appoint such nominee. In case
of death or disa ability Of either
territory shall notify the chair
man of the said central committee
of such appointeo's political
party. and such chairman may.
within three days thereafter.
recommend a successor who
shall, thoreupon, be appoint
ed -
This law also provided for county
election boards, consisting of mem
hers of the named political parties
and giving To the chairman OF each 81
such parties the power to nam,
Judges of election. II Is at once cv!
dent that, in all material respects, The
proposed election law is the same u,
that under which Democrats RcpJl'
Leans and populists lived for manS
and with the confidence and good Wtl
of their fellows, and with no hint oI
an oppressive, unfair, or fraudulent
administration Of the law
A candid review of the reasons ud.
vanced for the defeat of the pruposco
law inevitably forces the conviction
that its defeat is sought mainly upuI
the ground that the power to name
representatives Of the different pO
litical parties is vested in the repto-
sentatives of such parties, and, whet
selections Of representatives have beer
made, their appointment 10y state Of
ficials is made mandatory. This Oh
lection is powerful argument IN
support of the law, for opposition {,
the selection Of representatives of q
political party on election boards Il,
the authorities of that party invite
suspicion, and the desire to name tho
representatives Of political parties OF
the election board by state officials
and not by the representatives of tn,
party, at once raises question as tC
the motive underlying such desire
and, If the desire should prove to bt
successful. il destroys at n blow public
faith and confidence in the purity .
elections and the honest administra-
tion of the law.
Democrats, mindful OF the ancitn
glory of their party-its champions
ship of the right of the people to eX
press their will by the ballot, and I,
make their own laws unawed by thOst
i'm authority. unafraid Of the frown OF
official disfavor; unswayed by th'
Establishments of official power ahC
the hope OF rewards that come iron
fawning should vote to give the peo
pie of Oklahoma an honest elccuor
law, an election law that is not only
honest, but bears on its face the evl
dcnces of its honesty and engages on
confidence by the care with which /
safeguards elections against fraud
Democrats should remember tha
each election since statehood the,
have seen the plurality of their party