The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-02 00:00:00

WORKING MEN AND THE BALLOT.
The following memorial has been forwarded by the
Labour Representation League to Mr. Forster,
M.P.

"That your nu-moralists vise, With profound dissatisfaction
and regret the failure ot the Ballot Act In its present form
to Secure to electors the independent and untrammelled
exercise of their franchise by secrete. flog as Was proved at
the recent elections (me Parliamentary and the other muni-
cipal- at Preston and yEakekield, when pencil's acting on be-
half of the ao-ealled ' Constitutional ' party surrounded the
polling-Lootua, solicitiog and obtaining information as to
how the votes hail been given, thus effecting by syatema-
tired effort a subversion of the law by its evasion. Von,
memorhdists, frankly accepting the Pallet Act of last
session, not as a nullity or tturn, but as a measure of en-
lightened stzteemanship. really intended to secure freedom
of election by secrecy of voting, and to prevent unscrupu.
lion persons from exercising coercive power over the action
of poor and dependent men, pray you to use your influence
with your colleagues in the Cabinet to authorise your intro-
duction in the next session of Parliament of a i.slt dc-lata-
tory of the Legislature's intmtVn in ps.slog the Ballot Act.
For provmting the aforesaid and other improper and fin.
honourable practici s at future elections, your memorialists
humbly suggest that such bill shall provide :-
1. That any violation or evasion of the secrecy of
vetiog, or the intention of the Act, either by the col-
lection of cards alter polling, prying into the balloting
chamber, or otherwise, shall be punishable as a mis-
demeanour.
2. That any interference with or molestation of an
elector by a cau'resSot or tlthel, lioreon within a pro.
scribed d'skance from the polling-booth the
hours of polling, shall also be punishable as a miede-
MealiOnr.
3, that if Parliament deems it impracticable to abolish
paid auents altogether, it shall, nevertheless, restrict
as much as possible the action of such persons at
elections.
4. The p-diaddrion of the employment of paid canvasser.,
and also of all house-to home caneasaing ;as the in.
ordinate power these afford to candidates for ascertain-
ing and eonse mently interfering with the opinions of
electors is destructive to the freedom of choice. Every
one who is worthy to possess the P-arichine ought
surely to be left, to mak,- up his own Mind, aril exercise
an unbrassod coofee aa to the rival candidates. Your
memorialists earnestly hope, therefore, that you will
see Pt to give practical effect to the foregoing
suggestions, and, as in duty bound, will ever pray."
Mr. Forster has sent the following reply .--

- - -
"Education Pepartment, Whitehall, Oct. 24, 1872.—Sir,—
Mr rcstee desires rue to acauowledge the receipt of the
memorial from the Labour Representation League which was
forwarded to him at Balmoral. lie wishes me to say that he
will carefully consider the memorial, together with any
other letters or representation he may receive respecting the
'socking of the ballot,—l remain, sir, your obedient servant
(signed), II T. Bryant —To R. al. Latham, Rod., Iresident
of the Labour Represoutation League,'