The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-02-12


union that scandal after scandal has not fol
lowed in its wake And we have no hesitation
In affirming ha, thcro has bccn no such elcc-
ton without scores or cvutant portisns richly
earning ponl,ontlary sentence.
The decent citizenship VI tho state wants this
condition rcmodied once and for all. The clec-
lion law pending before the legislature appears
to meet the requirement. II makes the score
tnry Of state the head Of tho election machinery.
This is a decided improvement over the existing
law which confors that authority on the score
tary ot the senate. q non-oioctivo official, and
therefore creature Of tho machine.
The propoaed law likewise makes an elective
officer the head of tho election machinery in
each county, permitting the official organization
Of each major party In the county to name the
remainder Of the county board This change
completely dcccut,alizcs the election system
bringing 1t directly to tho people ana the county
organizations. It makes vicious nate election
machine absolutely impossible, and preserves
to each partisan organization control over ita
representation.
who viii question the fairness or the wisdom
OF such change. No advantage 10 either party
can grow out Of such au arrangement The
effect will be that In a republican county q
direct the county election machinery, while in
democratic county democratic county official
will head the county election machinery, this rc-
gardlcss Of tho party that may be In control at
oklahoma City regardless OF the political at
nlintlon Of the secretary Of state
Tho proposed changes In registration are
equally apropos. Instead OF permitting the
creation Of uciousIy partisan organization
capable OF controlling the primary and election
through It's ability to control registration, regis
tration is abolished In the county precincts and
is conducted In the towns ana cities by an elect
ed official who merely keeps registration books
open at central office the year around, closing
them only few days prior to each primary or
election.
Thus the citizen may establish his right to
vote at any time. Just hc now pays Ills taxes,
takes out license to wed fss "A case In
court. And In order TO do he must present
himself at a central office
The effect Of this viii be to prevent tho
fraudulent practices which have dissraced regis
traton in Oklahoma heretofore No partisan
machine large number Of strikers
with registration books ana send them out over
the city to canvass the various precincts for
democratic voters. ignoring those OF other po-
lticnl faith keep the books In their
possession long after the. period OF registration
has closed for the purpose OF registering partisan
friends.
Under the proposed law 1t will be impossible
for Gotcric of election crooks TO dismiss
honest official and recast the election board
the eve OF an election M was done in Tulsa dur
ing the last municipal campaign. Under the pro-
posed law. democrats will have a fair chance
between their own factions In primary elections
and improper practices will be rendered we'll
nigh impossible In general eIectons--something
that 1t has not been possible to say OF either
primary or general election heretofore.
No citizen seeking an honest, fair election
law that gives no partisan advantage to either
side will be found opposing the proposed change
In the election machinery only those who have
long enjoyed unfair advantage will oppose 1t,
The legislature should enact the proposed
law without division or debate, 1t IL most dis
tnctly In the interest OF decency and fairness.