New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-14
SAXTON ON BALLOT REFORM.
HIS NEW BILL WILL EMBoDY PROVISIONS
TESTED IN MASSACHUSETTS,
covrpvop u,,r,s uypocRIrIcAL DEMAND FOR
REGISTRATION RIDER TO BE REFUSED
THE PROPOSED LAW TO BE SUB
yEcrED TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

yFcTED TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY
my ryLEGRApu TO THE TKrB0SE.I
Albany, Dec. l3.-Senatorelect Chsies 1. eaA.o'
n Clyde tho author Of the SaNton Dao' hciorn oil'
passed through this city to-day on MS way W -'o
york ~ consult with eminent citizens there on ths
subject of ballot reform and TO obtain from tnon'
sucrestiops regarding his BILL which is now nearly
ready for publication Mr.. SaNton purposes 10 haVo
his bill printed and will send printed copies OF IL !"
the various newspapers Of the state ior their Cruz
risms previous the meeting of the Legislature III
January Not only will he introduce ballot reform
Hill hut also several other for tho purihca-
,on ~ elections one Of these will provide for state
ment on oath by all successful candidates OF 'helr
election expenses. Another bill imposes hesVy Pen"i
ties and punishment upon such voters as accept
81 see that Governor Hill says that no Is sun
opposed to the limitation of voters to an omclal
ballot, said Mr.. saxton, and that unless Priii'
IN. use OF unofficial ballots in my bill he Will Veto 10
ON the ground of unconsttuuonality. / cannot LOT
the life of me discern the unconstitutonahy Vi no
requirement 4 ballot Is an apparatus py "nIon NV
intention of the IS made obvious-hls choco VI
men for public Office 1t seems to me any man can
disclose his choice lust as clearly by making MAJ
opposite mans name as by putting Dai'o' "H''I
simply bears that mans name. The EoVerhoi
hear relies upon some decision of the court U.
Appeals of Kentucky on the Ballot REFORM "a" -
that state, but my impression OF tha' oeOi.on
directly contrary TO his-that the law was sustAneu'
ballot system of which am aware was siNon ~
minor court in Tennessee. The Massachusetts law
cerrainly has not been successfully aUachc"' ".i" "
every election held anywhere under inc nc" U'"o'
system the proof mutplie that it is no oDstacIe "
the voter expressing his WILL
DO you intend TO give up the ohcld paio' ~
response TO Mr. Hills demand ;"
II do nots replied Mr. SaXtOn, warmly, ana per-
NIT me 10 say that think it would be great ms'aho
10 surrender in this respect TO him. Inc on'cia'
ballot Is an essential part OF tho AsudIah D"',o'
system and you cannot surrender 1t Without la'dny
weakening 1t in my opinion keiofmers n'aNo
mistake when they thus compromise with lher op-
Moments They retard The reforms which they desire
10 accomplish by such action suppose we shouiu
make compromises OF this nature with Mr.. HILL Are
We not likely TO pass law under such circumstance
which will have no effect in checking the Dr1Dery
and intimidation at the polls, and one mat "ouin
soon therefore, be repealed No, l thihK that
compromise would much longer defer the aaoploh
of a genuine reform law than would be the case II
We decline to make it. and wait for puohc opinion
10 rise TO our aid and pass one. My bill VIII permit
the official ballot and no other"
Governor Hill, through The Albany Argus COM
plains that you have not applied the Austfalah
ballot box system 10 town meetings what 90 you
think of that poin2'
~Idd not provide for IL in NY bill last year. because
Of the peculiar manner in which town meetings are
viva voce. Then the meetings are very large In
CLYDE. for instance. we may have twelve hundred
voters a town meeting But the Governor snail not
have that omission, as H. deems H. to consoer thS
year The bill have prepared extends the Australian
system to town and village elections. am not sure
that IL is practicable, especially in town elections
Under our present method of holding town meetings,
the voting is all done at one polling place, as RUE
and in some towns from to two thousand votes are
cast. There are strong reasons why the town should
not vote in election districts at the spring elections
:" Have you made any other changes in your BILL
Yes For instance, the BLANKET ballot has been
adopted after much reflection. 1t was my intention at
fist have the various candidates grouped together
under their appropriate party names, but have be-
come convinced that such a method is impracucaoe,
because, while party may be united, for example,
upon the State ticket different factions might nominate
several local tickets, all bearing the same party desg
nation. ] have prepared another bin which deals
with the criminal aspect Of the question. 1t defines
crimes against the elective franchise and fixes apprO-
pirate penalties 1t also contains provision requiring
candidates 10 file, under oath, detailed statements of
their election expenses. These bills hope TO lay be
fore the public in order that they may receive the
benefit of public criticism
What Is the nature Of the changes you make In
your BILL compared with that Of last year,"
- The changes are rule, in the direction Of
closer conformity TO the Massachusetts, law; but the
essential features of last years preserved
A person who has not tried TO frame similar bill
can have no conception Of the many perplexing ques
tions that arise Difficulties suggest themselves with
almost every sentence. Nevertheless ! am certain
that the system proposed is the one best calculated TO
insure a radical reform Of the evils that now infest
our polling places election day. My earnest de-
sire IS TO frame a measure that will introduce the
system IN our state in It's most practical and I'M
Objectionable form The bill which have prepared
IS doubtless imperfect in many particulars IL should
be carefully scuinized by eyes that can defect what
have failed to | cordially invite every one in
terested In the subject 10 point out faults and sug
gest Improvements. The practical operation OF the
SYSTEM even in this country, has at last passed be
yOnd the stage Of doubt and conjecture The dangers
and difficulties have often been warned about
have entirely failed 10 maierialzc. The measure Is
now established upon the solid ground Of actual and
successful experiment. Those who opposed it were
theorists for their opposition, can now see, was
largely based upon dangers that were purely imas-
nary. But, after all, IL is no wonder that the bill
has excited great deal Of opposition 1t proposed rad-
cal changes in our methods of voting by what seemed,
at first sight, to- be very involved and complex
system. Many of those who favored the BILL believing
that something should be done in the matter and that
the experiment at any rate worth trying, had
their doubts about its success. But experience has
dssipaed all doubts by showing MS that The system
is really very simple and that il can easily be made
10 work smoothly and effectively. IT seems TO me
that, under the crcums stance, all opposition should
be WITHDRAWN / have had to acknowledge many
mistakes about this bill, OF them pointed out
by its opponents. That strikes me as lar bttter
course than to cng 20 error alter having discovered
its real nature
Have you observed that Governor Hill demands
that registration act be interviewer with your
Ballot Reform bli7
4" ! have, and In response, / will say that the bill
have prepared does not contain any provisions for
general registration of voters When the Ballot Reform
bill OF 1858 vetoed by Governor Hill. OF the
chief objections urged against IL that tended
necessarily to embarras hinder and impede electors
in the exercise Of guaranteed rights / deny that
IL could In any way have embarrassed voters,
cept those who desired to sell their votes. il
certainly did rot binder impede any person in the
exercise OF the election franchise more than seemed
absolutely necessary In order that great and press
ing reform might be accomplished. All regulatve /
acts must 10 certain extent Interfere with the voter
Now We find the opponents Of the bill demanding |
that heavy and entirely unnecessary burden be |
placed upon the shoulders OF every
rural voter in the state The complaint
in country districts Is that men vote who have