The New York herald., 1874-10-29
THE COMING ELECTION.
Facts, Instructions and History for
the People.
The Ballot in New York and
How Conducted.
"REPEATINs OF FORMER DAYS.

Boundaries and Location Of Congressional,
Senatorial and Assembly Districts.
It Is convenient for the 'rree and independently
voter to have all actual details peculiar to the
exercise OF the franchise arranged Tor him by
"Committee on Organization" or Clique OF poll
ucians. With the preimlnares and particulars
ne mas nothing whatever to do. Like the scho oil
Doy comnencing to parse or figure up an aritn-
metical problem, he Is taught his lesson as to the
mere mechanical movement or placing his vote
In the ballot box, but routine and principles of pre-
paration are points on which he rarely ponders.
P0RARR DAYs-RRPgATTNG.
During the days OF the old regime when Tweed
Co. ruled the city, county and State with
Napoleonic sway, the voter was q mere inci.
dental element OF an election. No matter what
the figures counted up for o certain candidate, II
the gentleman proved unacceptable to the
"Ring" he was sure to be shelved. "Repeatersn
then did the work, and Tits practice became 80
notorious that no secret was made Of 1t, The
leaders sent out their orders to each district
commander on the eve OF election !;
certain number OF votes was ex
pected from his particular quarter, and
that order was implicitly obeyed. Upon its strict
observance depended his well-being and future po'
htical prospects. This crime OF repeating" was
committed at several elections before the smash
up Of the Tweed dynasty. Many respectable cttt-
zens who went to the polling places TO register
their votes we're met with the answer, by laugh
ing inspectors, that they had already voted. The
fact was apparent that the repeaters, in league
with the inspectors, had been around early in the
morning and cast their ballots in the name OF re-
spectacle voters supposed to favor the opposition
ticket to Tammany. No objection to this terrible
system, by which universal suffrage was made q
mockery, would be tolerated. The blacKleg, the
gambler and the pickpocket with the ward "bum-
mer," thronged the polling places. 1t was as
much as q mans life was worth to raise an Objec-
tion Those people knew that they were operat-
ing in the interest Of powerful clique and could
count on protection should arrest follow their
offences.
HANDSOME KAJoRrTIEs
were thus rolled up, and candidates who could
not be elected to the position OF d0g catcheru in
any other country received an almost unanim ous
''count at the hands OF plant election inspectors.
Thus ran the daring work until an aroused public
sentiment dashed from position and emoIument
tnose traitors to popular rights and Suffrage The
Registry law was enacted as safeguard against
this outrageous system OF smothertng the voice OF
the people, but 1t has proved an utter failure 1t
passed as republican measure, introduced by re-
publican state legislators, to cut down the alarm.
ing majorities IN this city, which swamped all
their efforts in the State canvass. Then came the
United states Election laws, which provide for the
appointment Of supervisors OF election TO watch
the vote and protect the voters In each elec-
tiOn district. This was q serious move
on the part OF the national government.
1t looked like proposition to interfere
with state elections, but the plea was advanced
shat this privilege must be allowed where Con.
gressional representatives were chosen. This cer-
talnly had the appearance OF q valid excuse. The
corruption and almost openly-avowed tricks or
politicians in the large cities, and particularly In
New York, in connection with election matters
palliated and in fact seemed to call for Congress
sional interference. The people were openly
cheated under the old regime. Will it be so under
the new Time must develop an answer.
THE PRIMARY, sYsTEA.
Probably the foundation OF all our political
troubles and corruption in this city, as well IN
Ill others OF the country, Is system Of '.pri-
maryn elections. In our large cities It would be
70 Is say as TO 70 who who shall n'' rule W them. n.
Before every election we see advertise
ssnE o the saee
the County, Congressional. Assembly or Alder
manic conventions; M The polling places are in
election takes place the list OF delegates printed
that there seems TO be little need OF an election
seven O'Clock, when everybody is supposed to be at
supper. These lists are prepared BY the district
leaders; OF course no names are put on except
those known to be In perfect accord with The
leader. The lists are supervised by the great
"boss" OF either party, and II any one name is
these committees are generally the worst men IN IN
the community The respectable element ls ig-
e ms ns Ss rs sss
mate our candidates and often times elect them,
4 they please. Have the .people" anything to say
about this Not word.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTERS.
1t is the main purpose OF this article to give to
all OF whom vote 10 TINS city and county on the
8d OF November next, all the condensed lntor-
~ ar n ara arer p0,1 s @ snsr sney
rs citizens intelligently.
the city has been mapped out into 557 election
place Is established. The humber OF ballot boxes
used is five, and in the Second Judicial district,
wards an additional box is provided. These
boxes will be labelled as follows :-"General, Num-
D Ndmeer oy Number
.Justlces, Number seven" ln the Second Judicia!
district onlyl Constitotonal n u,sa Amendments"
side OF the ballots.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF DISTRICTS.
hands as general thing s pay little a:teniion to
the geographical position and boundaries Of the
apply for Information TO the first person they
meet, and are thus directed to the point at winch
20 register their name or cast their vote. or
course, after the registry 1t Is simple thing for
voter TO find his way to the proper quarter, but
many are even stupid enough TO forget the exact
often causes considerable trouble, and sometimes
the arrest OF innocent people. To obviate this
dinculty as much as possible, locations and direc
tions are here gwen.
TIE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
are as follows:-
Fiftn District-Frst Second Third, Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth Eighth and Fourteenth wards, and
Bedloe's Ellis, and Governors islands.
sixth District-Seventh, Eleventh and Thir.
eeenth wards.
Seventh Distr1ct-Tenth and Seventeenth wards.
Eighth DISTRICT Ninth, Fifteenth and sixteenth
wards, and that portion OF the Eighteenth ward
lying within Fourteenth street. Twenty-sixth
street and Fourth and sixth avenues
Ninth District.-SO much Of the Twentieth ward
rs lies within Twenty-sixth street, Fortieth
street, Seventh avenue and Hudson River, and SO
much or the Twelfth and wenty second wards as