Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1889 — ELECTION LAW. [ARTICLE]

ELECTION LAW.

Editor Republican. Under the present law township officers will be elected April 7, 1890, for four years. The Australian system which goes into force June 2,1890, forbids vest-pocket tickets and a recount of ballots. The Bribery Statutes now in force in terms greatly limit the separated cleverness of candidates. The bristling array of misdemeanors and felonies confronting those who manage the elective franchise under the new statutes ought to suggest the best possible method of makingjaominations and party organizations. In vacation is the time to formulate a manner of making precinct committees and township tickets so as to afford little excuse for personal inducement to the voter to perform his duty as a partisan. In order to start inquiry I propose a form of initial call which was substantially used by the Republicans of Marion, Jordan and Newton townships in 1888, TOWNSHIP CONVENTIONS. Each Republican of township is requested to meet at o’clock p. m. on Friday March 28, 1890 at his most convenient school house and assist to select a member of this precinct committee and one delegate to the township convention; also to cast and count a ballot for the nomination of a township ticket and a chairman of the precinct committee. Each delegate so selected will meet at 2 o’clock p. m. on Saturday March 29, 1890, to count the ballots for precinct chairman and township nominees, also to complete the nomination of a township ticket and the organization of the township committee. At these meetings the decision of every be made by a majority ballot of the members present It seems the voters duty would thus be easy, pleasant and effective. No expenses need necessarily be incurred. A voter can thus obey the law in a facile and agreeable way in selecting party committees and nominees. If you think of a more equitable and simple method for the home-loving voter to perform the duty of a partisan, make in known. The w ork of conducting a campaign under the statute of 1889 deserves thoughtful attention before partisan strife reaches white heat. August 13,1889.

SIMON P. THOMPSON.