The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-12-21
shernan,s Federal Election Law.

Senator Sherman Federal election bill is
not in line with popular sentiment on the sub
iect of purity of elections and a secret ballot.
In most States the most approved election
methods and measures are uppermost in public
discussion The Australian system, generally
regarded as the best, has been tried in several
Northern and Western States, and its adop-
ton, with amendments, is being discussed in
other commonwealth, particularly in the
South.
Under this system it is claimed that manu-
facturers and other employers of men cannot
coerce and vote them like cattle that the
ward worker will lose his occupation: that
bribery will be greatly checked, if it does not
cease altogether, and that the ballots will
better show the popular will.
Under the Australian law, ballots are fur
nished by the State, and contain the names of
all candidates of all parties. No others can be
used, and the voter is supplied with place,
removed from public gaze, where in secret he
can prepare his ballot and vote. He cannot
take ballot in with him, nor can he bring
any out. He may take a bride, but as the
briber cannot watch him prepare and
deposit his ballot he will be less prone to
purchase.
In the North the Australian system prevents
employers from coercing workingmen. In
the South it would practically disfranchise
thousands of negroes, who are too Ignorant
to mark their own ballots or to name candi-
dates for whom they desire to vote, in order
that one of the election judges might mark
their ballots for them.
The adoption of the Australian system,
then, will greatly work to Democratic advan-
tage. North and South. Mr.. Sherman seeing
the drift ofpubhc sentiment, and to counteract
the result of the adoption of the Australian
method, has formulated and brought forward
bill to perpetuate Republican control of the
Federal Government The bill provides for
the appointment by the President of a State
Board of Canvassers of FIVE in each State, and
an Electoral Board of three in each congress
sional district, and ali congressional elections
are to be held under the law if it should
become law. State legislatures, if they
choose, can have elections for Presi.
dental electors chosen under it at the
same election every Presidential year. The
Electoral Boards appoint registers Of voters
and Judges and clerks of elections. As to
Judges Of election, the bin says that they
should not all be of the same party, but If
they are IL shall not inUaliddte the election,
the meaning of which is, that they will be
under Republican rule, and this is saving
clause to insure absolute partisan control.
Registers Of voters are given loose rein, in
registering voters, and persons whose names
are not on the books are permitted to vote, if
they viii swear that they are qualified voters
and we're registered. This proviso is to let in
negroes in the South who have several names,
who may forget under which they registered.
Registers have regular times of sitting, bat
they are permitted to register voters any time
previous, and are allowed ten cents for each
name so registered. This is an encourage
meut to them to hunt up voters, and 1t sill be
safe to predict that in the South no Repubh.
can voter will be unregistered.
If this bill could be enacted, the election
of Presidential electors would next be added,
and then would follow an amendment includ
ing the election for members OF legislatures
that elect United States Senators.
Under the Sherman bill the coercion Of
Democratic woTkingmen at the North is pos.
sible and the voting Of the negroes OF the
South in droves viii be practical. In States
where the secret ballot would jeopardize Re
publican success, the legislatures might vote
to place the election Of Presidential electors
under the sherman law, and this would permit
the Wanamakers 70 ase a campaign fund
with which the Dudleys could purchase voters
ia ''blocks Of Ave.
The pretext for the sherman bin IS 10 iu-
sure free and fair elections in the South where
Radicals believe that fraud aud Intimidation
are practiced against the negroes, but when
the Southern States are about TO adopt the
Australian ballot law, said TO be the best BY
ali advanced refcrmers, Mr.. Sherman steps
to the front. backed BY the Republican party,
and advances a measure that will preclude the
/ election of members ct Congress by this ap
proved system. The hollowness Of RePubl
can professions in regard TO free ballot IS thss
/ illustrated.