Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1914 — Use Schoolhouses as Polling Places [ARTICLE]

Use Schoolhouses as Polling Places

By ROBERT ADAMSON,

, Manager Fusion

Campaign In New York City

POLITICS in the United States is still in its childhood. 'We still feel compelled to sur-. round flic voter with pictures, banners and general bedlam in order I to induce .him to vote a certain ticket. It may be to distract him so that he doesn't think how he votes. The button man will not even consider an order for LESS THAN A MILLION BUTTONS for a campaign. Yet no one but boys wear these buttons, and they influence no one. One of the greatest needs for improvement'in campaign practices is in the halls where public meetings and elections are held. The halls where meetings are held are not in keeping with the dignity and significance of the meetings, for surely NO BUSINESS IS MOKE SACRED AND IMPORTANT than the election of officials. These halls are apt to be smoky, dirty, crowded, filled- with banners and the music of a band. It is hardly a place to consider a big question seriously. I BELIEVE THERE COULDN’T BE A BETTER USE FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAN THIS. A SCHOOL WOULD BE A MORE SUITABLE BUILDING FOR A POLLING PLACE Than a basement, some dark ROOM OR CORNER STORE. SUCH PLACES ARE VERY CONDUCIVE TO FRAUD, THOUGH I BELIEVE FRAUD WAS REDUCED TO ITS LOWEST TERMS IN THIS LAST NEW YORK ELECTION. Such a move as the use of schools for meetings would be would tend in the direction of progress. There has been MORE PROGRESS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS IN POLITICS THAN IN THE FIFTY YEARS BEFORE. In the era coming there will be less of politicians and more of the men who do the work because they are fitted fpi; it. ■ . We want you to call and see our splendid new stock of box stationery, correspondence cards, etc.— THE DEMOCRAT. 1