Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-21
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COMPLETE CHANGE NECESSARY
It Is no credit to Perth Amboy
that It was left to New Brunswick
men 70 protest to the County Board
OF Elections against the reappoint-
ment OF the election board in the
second poll of the fifth ward where
such a discrepancy between the
number of votes in the ballot box
and the number Of names on the
poll books was found in the recount
OF last year. 1t shows an indiffer-
ence on the part of the people of this
city that only emphasizes the indif-
ference hat marked the special
election last Tuesday.
It is a sorry state Of affairs. in
deed. when the people. apparently,
don't are how their elections are
conducted or what form of munich
pal government they have. The oft
repeated adage that eternal vigil
ance is the price of liberty means
as much today as it ever did. I'm
less our elections are honest and the
count OF the votes is correct the will
of the people cannot be a~scertained.
Much depends on the character of
the election officers at the various
polling places. They should at least
Be competent men who appreciate
the responsibility resting upon them.
That there was something radical
~ wrong in the fifth ward in this city
last year has been made clear before
the court. The least that can be ex-
pected is that the men responsible
for the condition there be removed.
AS far as the people of this city were
concerned, however. it would appear
that nothing was to be done about
the matter. Two public spirited
men of New Brunswick were deter
mined not to let it pass unnoticed.
There Is much at stake this fall and
dishonesty or incompetency in any
part Of the county is the concern of
an.
There is some satisfaction in the
fact that the Republicans had the
decency to name two new men, their
representatives in the second poll of
the fifth ward this year. The Demo-
Gratis. however, had the effrontery
to attempt to keep their same too
men in charge. 1t has not helped
to raise the party in the estimation
Of honest voters.
1t is to be regretted that the safe
guards that were placed about the
elections by the Geran law are grad
ually being removed. Thanks to the
action OF the last legislature the ap-
pointment of the poll clerks has been
placed back into the hands of the
politicians OF course, it may be
said that the election officers against
complaint has been made were
named under the Geran law as it
was enacted. but it is significant that
after the incompetency al been
proven politicians OF at least one
political party would continue the
same men in Office.
The best means Of assuring honest
elections and an accurate count was
the plan proposed 1t the time the
Geran law was adopted. This was
that as the elections were to be held
in the school buildings and as the
teachers had a holiday on election
day. that women teachers be placed
in charge Of the ballot boxes. It is
a safe bet that with the right kind
of women in charge there would
not be any funny business such as
was brought out in the fifth ward
last year. The woman idea was too
much for the politicians. however.
and a compromise was made where
by the Judge could name school
teachers If he wanted to. In most
eases he didn't want to. But where
excellent service and the election at
excellent service and the election in
the polls where they were in charge
in certain cities was conducted in
this most satisfactory name with
the count quickly and accurately
made.
We are now back to the old po-
litician method, thanks to the last
legislature. and 1t is necessary to be
more on our guard than ever. 1t is
for that reason that there should be
4 complete change in the personnel
Of the election officers where such a
condition as that in the fifth ward
Is found.
BALL PLAYERS.
In a technical journal there has