Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-13
ELEcIIsN REFORM.
The Australian system With some
Notifications Endorsed.

EHN-#H.# .Lt-ELE III
The Australian system with some
Notifications Endorsed.
Irish World: Popular attention in
this country has for some time been
concentrated upon what is now known
as the Australian or Massachusetts cleo
ton laws, which have practically been
enacted in Great Britain and several OF
her colonies. and SO far with satisfactory
results.
The New York legislature passed o
similar bill (known bs the Ssxton BILLY,
but it was vetoed by the governor,
may yet be re~conciled. The governors
in their recent messages to the leRisla--
ture' OF these states, urge the passage Of
snoh laws very strongly.
Governor Morehouse, OF Missouri, re-
marks: .'By enforcing absolute secrecy
OF She ballot intimidation and bribery
may be prevented. When cltizsns are
required to vote in such q manner as to
be ASSUMED that the way in which they
| vote cannot be known TO any but them
selves the timid 40 longer fear and the
l Vp3Hk WlAk uOs 10 bO0bShs Abbb Is ueu-
onstsated as we'll by experience rs by
reason. Until 1872 the lsuffsagein Ire.
land YVES controlled through the inunda-
ton Of tenants by the lendlorda, and in
England wholesale bribery was q feature
British parliament adopted what is
known as the Australian eyssem' OF
voting. Under this system. owing 10 the
l naut, aksasn 1f rsto 1anvnn-h husk.,~ - Al.
polls has disappeared, and for the same
reason Intimidation has so fer ceased TO
be q factor in Irish elections
that the repre- sentatives OF
the landlord class who formerly
given place to Parnell and his followers
. = = These and similar considerations
have induced the adoption of electoral
Great Britain, Ireland and Canada,
operation, and in the state OF Massachu-
aetts. where 1t is to go into effect next
year. To the election laws of these
ohusetts. as we'll as the ballot bill passed
by both houses Of the New York legisls-
ture ct its last session, but vetoed by
WAC koSekAOV y ! tuhs csnteS reference ma
be had for she details OF the reform"
a bill has already been presented in
the state OF New jersey which will be
pressed for early action and ii is moi
only in accord with the suggestions bat
in accordance with the esrnestly-
expressed wishes OF the knights Of labor
the federation OF labor, and prominent
republicans, democrats, and indepen.
dents. Its salient points are 90 follows.-
First. The ballot shslk be printed by
the public, the names OF all candidates
being printed upon Q single ballot under
their proper designations.
Second. When the voter goes TO his
polling place to vote he receives q bsllo,
from the election tficeFs. he takes this
ballot into Q private compartments and
prepares 1t BY marking an Z in the
margin opposite the names Of the persons
for whom BE wishes TO vote. He then
folds IL, Immediately votes. and leaves
the polling room.
Third, The compartments ere to be-
situated in o sailed enclosure end no one
is permitted inside this enclosure SAVE
persons entering for the purpose oil
voting. and NO more voters are allowed
in the enclosure at any time than therf
are compartments.
Fourth. Only election officers challens.
ing agents OF parties or candidates and
persons actually engaged in voting ore
allowed in the polling room.
Fifth, Only the ballot printed by the
public can be used; all others are void
Sixth, Political parties that poiled