The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-18
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

MOI E-No uhsis
munications are published by
The Times-News. All letters
must be signed with the real
name of the author. No COM
munications signed with a TIC
titious name will be pubiisheo'
EDITOR. Az,
THE ABSENTEE BALLOT LAW
Editor. The Times-News:
Contrary to popular thought
The Absentee Ballot Law OF TINS
state was not passed IN ofder TO
afford the soldier boys OF the
World War an opportunity to
vote. This law was introduced
and | think passed, before we de-
clared war in 1917, and 1t was
brought forward, if l remember
correctly, by a representative OF
Mecklenburg county for the pur-
most of affording travelling men
especially the opportunity to vote
the absentee ballot. AS it hap
pened war was shortly thereafter
declared and the law served a
good purpose in affordlng the
Soldiers an opportunity to vote.
In theory the law as it now
stands is not a bad law, but IN
the past four years there has
developed a situation that clear
| ly shows the law not to be FOL
lowed in spirit or letter. It's
operation in many sections OF the
state has developed a decided
suspicion among the people as TO
honesty in conducting both phi
mary and general elections. This
suspicion and known abuse OF the
privilege has brought condemna-
ton from the leading citizens,
the chairmen of the election
boards and the present admins
tration. | remember in 1881 as
a member of the Election Laws
Committee of the House that j.
Crawford Biggs appeared before
the committee and advocated
drastic changes in the law and
even suggested it's repeal. AT
that time, as | recall it, no one
could point to any definite fraud
in the operation of the law, and
with some changes designed to
cheaper administration and SIM
ply the law it was allowed the
stand.
AS a result of certain alleged
frauds in the primaries of 1884
a great protest went up in all
parts of the state against keep
ing this law on the statute books,
so much criticism was directed
against it that it was taken for
granted that the law would be
repealed and the governor went
so far in his message to the gen
eral assembly as to call for the
repeal of the law. The lower
house, however, voted down q
bill following the governors sug-
gestion and the demand through
out the state. So the law is still
with us. | am persuaded that
this was a great mistake polite
| ally as we'll as otherwise. This
law is being preserved for the
benefit of the primary elections
in the east and for the general
elections in the west. | am OF
the opinion that this will result
in loss of votes and less enthu-
siastic support of the Democra-
tic party. l saw a petition some
time back which was circulated
in this city. I thought it had
an aggregation of names of a
very large number of the best
citizens of our town and COM
munity, and many who are m
terested in politics of both par
ties. IF this petition was'a cross
section Of opinion on the subject,
then 'ewe should ask Hon: w. r.
Sherard, our local representative
to take Henderson county from
under this law. as is being done,
or at least attempted by other
counties at this time, with all
prospects that many counties will
abolish the law within their bord-
ers.
There is a difference of opir.
ion with relation to any matter
of this kind. but | believe ultl-
mately the Democratic party Of
Henderson county will do well to
back Mr.. Sherard in such a move.
l do not know Mr.. Sherard's atti-
tude but l assume that he would
introduce such a bill if convinc-
ed that the people desire it.