New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-25
BALLOT REFORM DISCUSSED.
PAPER BY ALLEN THURNDIKE RICE
THE EVILS or THE LODGING HOUSE POINTED our


THE EVILS OF THE LODGING HOUSE POINTED OUT
THE SECRET BALLOT.
The meeting Of the Literary Society Of tho
Young Mems Christian Association Last evening
was made especially interesting by the appearance
Of Allen Thorndike Rice. Editor Of The North
American Review" as one Of the speakers lie
was present at the invitation of the society and
den cred on interesting address on Ballot Re
iorm." 1t was received with great satisfaction
by almost every one except few ward politicians
of the old school, who sat in the last row Of seats
and shook their heads dolefully at the remedy
proposed by the speaker for the crying politlcal
| ills of tho day
| The lecture room was filed with members
! and visitors. President Friefeld presided
| In outlining the subject Mr.. Rice declared that
| it was eminently simple. IL dealt with no gen.
| eral theories Of government, but merely aimed
at equal and fair regulation Of the exercise OF
| franchise, without which any other representa-
tive reforms vain. Its importance raised 1t
above all Partisan consideration, since 1t appealed
to all men in favor of political progress and
political reform" Then, after giving On account
OF his own initiation into the arena of metropon-
| tan politics. he went into q general discussion OF
! the vote-buying business In the course Of which
/ he said:
The purchase OF votes In the City oNewfork is not al
retail business 1t 10 practsed at Wholesale as ire
queny OF the lodging house vote It's
Is SOC 1odging licensed In this
city by the Health Department Mr. Henry A Gumolston
considerable TO this matter estimates
/ that the Iodgp ghouse population OF this city on
October l. 1886. per cent OF tie en-
tire city electorate These houses are refuges OF
trampspurchasable voters who flock In shortly before
election aud the highest bidder Those men are often
Grimm ais gIavstng toward tho city after summer spent
I'm btfu occupations many the whole vote oil
lodg house disposed Of in lump and delivered un"er
the supernendence Of the Logging house keeper Iheso
marched to tho polls squads OF two three anu
four under the direction OF a skilled party worker
In order TO secure the proper casting their ballots these
ndepend then required to elevate the right
hand exposing the ballot in that position until cast They
generally got about SO the job but often as mnch As $40
told. on last election day met worker WHO INFORMED
me with In his that IL had been
day for business the votes had had run as hgn
ten dollars apiece But SAID he with PRIDE manager
to get a dollars, In district where kno"
OF the votes brought much more He seemed 70 'k
much pride achievement These things 20 on under
there Is little help In the courts Tor such cases
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF The REFORM.
By way of illustrating these remarks MIR III ce
mentioned some Of the observations made by one
of De Iancey Nicolps supporters on election DAY
which have already been published. The essen
tial features Of any efficient ballot reform, ne
maintained, were twofold, and no project of re-
form was complete that did not cover both.
These he stated and elaborated as follows;
.
fctor absolute OF the ballot must be Insured
These should be goals TO reach any re-
all As long candidates are are required TO furnish
money 10 deray OF elections Just 80 long wi"
there be and systematic opposition to the popular
will just 'ec that the 'b's'' the orioer
and the will continue TO flourish and to aisiy the
record
Ono OF the most striking defects in election laws
lies IN tho fact that they assume the existence OF
ORGANIZATIONS TO print and distribute tickets, to watch
the polls and execute almost every important pro.
vision OF the election laws. for while these laws regu
late vsting and the style OF TICKETS thry mae
mn proyiso for their In metropolitan dstrc
these that no door man. Ia ne ne
talents Webster may expect elect 10 any hgh ohco III
the gilt people without mortgatng his ohcal action
In advance companies OF organizations that
deay his expenses This fact would IN time tend TO
destroy republican government in America ond substitute
the rule olgarches and political conspraces
the rule Of the people
THE FARCE OF SECRET VOTING.
Nothing could farce than tho present SOC aed
ballot In the State am sure that no one VINO
has carefully weighed the evils produced by tho absence OF
with John Stuart NH In his advocacy OF
m open ballot implies iistrust
AMI debases the standard Of the cIzon The system
OF votns In the Islands regret an American 10
confess projects tho voter better than present system
England has done from expectancy. under monarchy
, America should dc o princiue under democracy
Unt the poor he desires 10 vote, without
slightest possb lily OF detection he Will DO subject TO
the sbls Influence OF his employer his landlord. OF MS
|
b, corrupt cques factions Until every Amer
can votes without lear have abOshei an electoral
system fertile Of political evils and elbow nlquite de-
will DO only system oil popular government tenn
pered 10y special political zations and so
long shall the semblancc OF representation
The evil wrought by unwise csston sfound
in the compelling power OF enlightened pubic opin9n 70
10 edies tail But tho secrecy OF thc ballot must be
supplemented by making the legitimate exprn' OF election
public Gharse Al . should be- pub
/ charge
citizens.
BnIBt RY AT ELECTIONS.
Bribery at elections had been almost stopped
! in California and several Western States by a
law that forbids voter to exhibit his ballot
within o. feet of the polling place, but the secret
ballot, Mr.. Rice believed, would prove even more
effective. Honest opposition TO the proposed law
! he added. could only be against some OF the de-
tails of the pills that have been offered, not
against The principles upon which they are BASED
The only opposition i, ia from corrupt pot-
clan. and "m.ss-back conservatives hon'sL pracs'a
notrians are OF the re srm Not only
all parties have advocated the measure
bu back ed by a body OF popular opinion tho it
tude has during the pat year oeeh most
able has received the serious attention not sny
Of a largo Of the press throughout the country.
Int of leading NswYork Journals OF such varied creeds
a. THE Tr,RJyE and Ths gorld The Times. The Sp and
IN, Standard public opinion truly reflected by the
press proper bill shout be speedily and vigorously
forced to We do not want bill that VIII deA
more sveepn with established customs
We want TO change possible under the cir
cumstances 49,
The question was discussed after MI Rlccs de,
parture by tie following members OF the Soclety,'
Harrison Dowens, John k. Anderson, George H.
richards. Ira H. Brainerd, William Armstrong
/ p Augustus Wieting, Jasper !. Goodwin, Erhest
| Freund and Chauncey 5. ). Miller.
uuv cUIRLES COULDN'T MARRY HANNAH