The examiner., 1886-02-13
THE SECRET BALLOT.
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR.

BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR. AN INTERESTING HEARING AND ANIMATED DEBATERs. Friends of she Measure Growing in Num- bers Every Year. ssIis Got to Come" Once again, for the fifth or sixth time, the friends of a "Free ballot and fair count" have knocked at the doors of our Connecticut Legislature, asking for the passage of Secret ballot act that would permit every one of it's citizens, no matter by what circumstances surl ounded, to record their voice and vote in accordance with their convictions and the solemn ob- | ligation they had taken to do so. And this time is the first of the series where the ssagitators'' did not have to appeal to wholly hostile committee, committed in advance against any change that would place the honest poor man on an equal footing in the political contest, with the man of money, and the corrupt mani pula | ter.
 There are three bills before the Commit tee-one by Rep. Kehoe, of New Britain, another by Rep. Lee, of Meriden, and the last was introduced by Rep. King of Nau- gatuck All are similar to each other, with the exception that MT. Kings bill provides booth through which the voter must enter, and while concealed prepare and secure his ballots in an envelope before voting. All the speakers advocating the measure endorsed the latter bill, as the best adapted to secure the desired result
 Mir. Daniel P. Brady of Middletown was the first speaker and earnestly advo- cated the measure. He referred to the manner in which timid voters are some times hauled around at our polling places, by men hired to use corrupt influences and where s'spotters" are employed to ascertain what such and such men vote, perhaps to have them victimized if they vote contrary ployer. This bill would stop all bribery and bulldozing and all the other corrupt work which is disgrace to the State and civilization.
 Rep. Smith of Westport raised his voice in behalf of an absolute secret ballot, that voters were coerced and intimidated under the present plan. It could do harm to no one and would afford protection to all.
 MT. William J. Chadsey of Middletown advocated the measure as proposed by MT. King. Ten years in the service of the Labor cause had given him opportunity of studying the manipulations of the polit- icians, and he was satisfied that no honest election could be had under existing laws. He had seen workingmen bulldozed-had seen it with his own eyes, and organized Labor was becoming aroused to the neces- sity of better methods. He did not ask protection for himself for he had always voted open to all men-though he knew he had suffered for it, but he wanted protec-- tion for those whose circumstances often obliged them to vote different from what their consciences dictated, every vote of which might be recorded as cast by the boss, and which oyercomes the free intellir gent ballot entirely.
 MT. W. J. Coughlin, another of the Middletown delegation, produced much material testimony in.favor of the establish ment of secret ballot. He had the mis- fortune to be born ill 8 town-Portland- where corporations yietimized men by the wholesale for daring to vote as they thought best. He saw men forced to the polls led like cattle, or carried in the big teams to deposit their ballots, while the agents of the corporations stood there as spoilers or in control of the boxes. Even when the horse teams were all impressed into service, cattle teams were employed to finish the work. Mir. Coughlin cited several cases that came under his own personal Obserya- tion, and where men had actually to go out into the State, making appeals for aid to keep from starvation the victims of this diabolical spirit and outrage. All of this, was true, without particle of fiction in it, or electricity" either. Organized Labor demanded this measure of right and justice and it would have to come in the end.
 Robert Pyne of THE EXAMINER was the next in line, in advocacy of the bill presented by MT. King. The others were good as far as they went, but they fell short of the principal requisite-secrecy, without which the others would be of little avail. He came to the committee to seek protection, not for himself, but for his ballot, for pro- I0CGlOn or the InIeliiSeut, HOAcSI, SOESClSu- tious ballot from being smothered under those of the weakling and political prosti- tute. It was unnecessary for him to enter into an account of how elections were generally conducted in our cities and large towns, the committee knew that as we'll as he did. The Secret ballot was wanted that the honest and capable poor man might | stand on an equal footing with the rich man who would use his money fur corrupt | purposes. It was wanted that no man | might be called on to sacrifice for daring | to do that which was right. It was wan ted that one man could not cast the ballots of hundred or 8 thousand others. We sometimes hear the cry of a 'sstrong candi- date'' wanted. We all know what it means. It means candidate with strong pocket book; and such were generally successful no matter by what political tag they were adorned.
 MT. Lee of the Committee asked MT. Pyne how it was possible for cripples- men who had lost their arms or who needed