Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-16
The Black Ballots.

Chairman Cole of the Republican State the Subject.
 Chairman Cole, of the Republican State committee, publishes the following about the ''black" ballots: lots shall be plain white paper with the name and once written or printed thereon, and other bal Sec A.. v Any, eleotor who shall oT 10 any eector to yote any ticket so folded, shall be fined not than hundred dol lars and imprisoned not more than one year legs The substance of those provisions was first enacted in force since. and was as follows -
 Sec. B. All ballots shall be written or printed on that the same be designated when folded, shall be subject to the same punishment s provided in section first of this act.
 What was the object of the aot2 It had been charged by the managers of the Demo- cratic party that Republicans having large numbers of men in their employ, for the pur- pose of ''spotting" voters, had tickets print ed on colored paper, red, blue or black, as the case might be, on paper having dis tinct water or other mark, which appeared on the outside of the ballot when folded there l fore the act was passed. The construction 1 put on the act at the time Was-tf1at it did not | intend to prohibit the use of devices on the l inside of the ticket, which would enable the voter to see at 8 glance what ticket he was voting, or would prevent the easy coun- ] CT less extent had initiated the ballots l of the other, and the necessity of taking some precaution against it was known and | recognized by both. Borders and de- vices of various kinds have been used by both parties, not only before 1867, when the | above lew was passed, but ever since So | long as the name and office have both ap- peared printed on 2lai7a aolite 2oa7oe2, the de- | vices have been used by the highest author l ity and sanctioned by all. Without going 1 back to the passage of the law will cite in stances of ballots used in different years.
 ]. In 1870. Marshall Jewell for Governor The bal lot had border about conspicuous the border the border at the head occupying at least one third the space of the balot engraving eagle grasping the national flag and the of Connecti-
 2. The same ballot was again used when Marshall | Jewell was candi late for Governor in 1872. l 3. In 1874, when Kenry B Harrison candidate for Governor, the Republican ballot border with Charles R. IngersolI was the Democratic candidate for Governor The Democratic ticket had border more than one-third of the face of the ballot.
 4 In 1876, R. D. Hubbard being Democratic candi date for Governor the party used engraved plate with elaborate work the face of the ticket and arms of Connecticut fn the same year the Republi ticket for Presidential electors had border ant within it on one side vignette of Hayes and the
 5. In 1878, Charles B. Andrews being Republican
 
 the Democratic candidate, both tickets had border without other device.
 6. In 1850, Charles R. Ingersoll and Loren P. Waldo being two of the Democratic candidates for electors and James E. English for Governor, the ticket had 1 wide and very elaborate border.
 The Republican ticket of the same year had an engraved heading. Other devices have been used in other years by both par ties. It will be seen that both parties have ! had among their candidates some of the mos eminent lawyers of the State, and they have 1 in every case, sanctioned the use of borders ! and devices on the face of the ticket. But i should be observed that in all these cases the name and office are actually printed OF whit. paper.
 Now for the point of difference between the ballots heretofore used and sanctionel ; by both parties and the ssblack ballots used by the Democrats of the Eighth dis trict this year. It is said that some Re l publicans in New Haven cut the border ] from the Republican ticket and thus voted it If that were done it will be seen at glance that the most fault finding caviller could no object to the ticket. But suppose the sam' experiment were tried with the Democrat, ticket, what would be the result? Th' Democratic party in New Haven were in ai open quarrel among themselves. The man agers boasted that they had devised ticket by means of which they could "spot' tho bolters. If the names were printed ol the ticket they would be in white on blacl 1 ground. If the names are not printed, bu : ! are left to appear in white after the black i printed on, then it is equally in violation o the law. The law regards the effect, and il either view the effect is of white lettering ol black ground. The conclusion is irresistiLl that the ballot is grossly illegal.