The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-11-21
A FRIENDLY suGaEarIoM.

That the next Legislature of the State
of New Jersey will be composed of ma
| jority of Democratic members, the Re-
publican party has been obliged to admit
with considerable regret. But the time
for lamentation having gone by, the sea.
son for business is near at hand; and, in
this respect, the Legislature should not be
considered as the Democratic Legislature,
or the Legislature of any party, but the
Legislature of the State of New Jersey,
assembling for the common good of every
portion of the people, from Cape May to
the Delaware river. In such = spirit,
there is at least one important measure
which the Senate and House OF Assembly
should be exhorted, regardless of party,
to support; namely, revision of our sys-
tenn Of holding elections. The question
is not new one, for il has been discussed
at considerable length in the State Of
New York, and the simple veto of bill
containing prov isions for the reformation
of the polling methods of that State lost
to Governor Hill the votes of many thou
sands of workingmen. Some of the other
States are also contemplating action in
this direction. The changes proposed are
too wellknown to require any heightened
description at present. It is sufficient to
say that the main features are that all
the ballots to be voted shall be prepared
by the State authorities and submitted to
the voter just before he Is to cast his vote;
that he shall be provided with place
where he may privately indicate upon the
ticket which candidates he desires 20 sup
port, and that no person except the voter
and the election officers shall be permit
ted to come within certain distance of
the polling place.
The advantages of such law are obvi-
GUS. In the first place, politicians would
not be able to have the ballots deceptively
printed; and SO they would be prevented
from deceiving the ignorant. Neither
would they have the power to place the
ballot in the hands of purchased or in
Inundated voter and accompany him to the
ballot-box to see that the vote was cast
according to their wishes. The purchas.
ing of votes would thus be reduced to
very uncertain business; in fact, to its
minimum. The comprehensivenes OF the
measure in question is not at first appar-
ent. 1t would make a complete revolu-
ton in our voting system in many re-
spects. Plainly, when such an advanced
and practical idea comes to the surface,
the intelligent State of New Jersey cannot
afford to disregard it. Nor need any par
ty meg to fear it II they believe In the
recttude and common sense Of their prin-
ciples; for 1t would put the political situ-
alton on an entirely new aud more hope
ful basis. Moreover, 1t could be made to
accomplish what 80 many men have wish.
ed for, and so few have seen their way to
realizing, namely, the educational quail
fication for voting. For II is evident that
no man who could neither read nor write
could prepare bis ballot In secret. The
advantages of the new system cannot fail
to expand and multiply to the mind, the
more one examines 1t. For these reasons,
aud for the mutual benefit OF every com
munity and every political party, the pro-
lection and publication of the ballot 10
commended to the next Legislature of the
State of New Jersey. Ne,oark AdUertiser.