The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-04
(Official City, State and County
Newspaper)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. LEVINGS
e. BREWER
UncorporateO
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Honest Ballots

tions, many North Dakotans will sup
port the proposal to tighten the alb
sent voters ballot, suggested by the
Nonpartisan League, if enough sign
ers are obtained to place the matter
on the ballot in March.
The reason is obvious to anyone
who takes the slightest trouble to en-
alyze the election laws of the state
as they have been in the past or as
they now are.
All of us have been trained to re-
gard the ballot as a sacred thing, as
the ultimate evidence of citizenship.
The right to vote is the major diff
ference between a citizen and an
alien living in this country. Essen
TALLY, it was the right to vote that
was in issue when the fathers of
the nation rallied to the cry of "tax-
alton without representation is ty-
ranny." Each of us has voice in
government only through the ballot.
In fact and by reason Of historical
association, therefore, it is precious
thing.
But the tradition of sacredness van
islaes when we see one man carrying
a bale of votes in his pocket. The
fact that all of them may eventually
be honestly and fairly voted does not
dim the fact that they may also be
dishonesty and unfairly voted. In
the face of such a situation, the ten
dcncy of the average man is to feel
that his one small vote counts for
little when arrayed against 40 or 100
votes of another man which can pos
sibly be cast illegally of course) and
counted against him.
1t is no secret that election frauds
are not unknown in North Dakota.
When we read that ballot boxes have
been tampered with in elections else
where we have no right to adopt a
Holier- -than-thou mien. Some frauds
have been perpetrated right here in
Bismarck and Burleigh county. They
have occurred elsewhere.
In the case of Senator ELECT Bank
head Of Alabama, now before a SEN
ate Subcommittee, there are said to
be evidences of unfair balloting in
that state. The intimation is that
dead persons came back to life long
enough to have their votes cast and
counted. This resurrection was, OF
course, technical rather than real
but the votes were counted just the
same.
In other instances, we hear, per.
sons who had not been residents o.
Alabama for 10 years cast absen
voters ballots. In that period, it wouls
seem. such persons probably had es
tablished residences elsewhere. I
they voted it was merely because they
were asked to do so and because the,
had sufficient disregard for homes
government to yield to whateve
temptations were offered.
Generally speaking, initiated legis
lation is not always good legislation
Under the constitution. the major jol
of making laws is delegated to tn
elected representatives Of the peopl
and the proper thing. usually, is t
leave the task in their hands.
But legislation which makes it pos
sible to place a hundred or thou
sand ballots in the hands Of a politi
cal agent, as the North Dakota law
makers did last winter. is hardly pro
tecting the sanctity of the ballot.
It may be that this is a situatio
upon which. the people should speal
directly and forcefully.
The important thing is not tn
method used to curb unfair electio
practices but that they be curbee
Because the Nonpartisans are circu
lating the present petition is no in
dication that they are lilly white
with regard to the proposition {
that their political opponents al
kettle black" A survey Of electio
frauds probably would show the
have not been limited to one tactic
or party.
The identity Of the political grou
circulating the petition does not al
feet the major question. The nee
is that one mans vote be made I
count for as much as any oths
mans; that laws for the living
made by the living, not by anyor
having access to the graveyard