Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-13
ELEc1lsN REFORM.
h Australian System with Som.
Notifications Endorsed.

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 oil
her colonies, and so far with satisfactory
results.
The New York legislature passed q
similar bill tknown bs the Ssxton biil),
but it was vetoed by the governor,
n%ominally, for special reaaons, wh,ch
may yet be %reoonciied. The governors
OF Missouri, Michigan and New Jersey,
In their recent messages to the legisia-
turs OF these states, urge the passage OF
tnch laws very strongly.
Governor Morehouse, Of Missouri, re.
marks: .'By enforcing absolute secrecy
OF the ballot intimidation and bribery
may be prevented. When citizeps are
required to vote in such q manner as 10
be assured that the way in which they
vote cannot be known to any but them
selves the timid 40 longer fear and che
venai will not be trusted. This is dem :
onstrated as we'll by experience as by
reason. Until 1872 the Buffragein Ire
land wss controlled throagh the inunda.
tion Of tenants by tho landlorde, and in
England wholesale bribery was q feature
of elections. To prevent bribery the
British parliament adopted what is
known as the Australian system OF
voting. Under this system, owing 20 the
perfection ct its secrecy, bribery at the
polls has disappeared, and for the same
reason Intimidation has so far ceased TO
be e factor in Irish elections
that the repre- ssntatives Of
the landlord class who formerly
sat in parliament from Irelaad have
given place to Parnell end his followers
II = = These and similar considerations
have induced the adoption Of electoral
reforms outlined above in Australia,
Great Britain, ireland and Canada,
where it has long been in successful
operation, and in the state of Massaohu-
setts, where il is to go into effect next
year. To the election laws OF these
countries and to the ballot act OF Massa.
chusettS, as we'll as the ballot bill passed
by beth houses OF the New York leRisIe-
ture ct ita last session, but vetoed by
the governor OF that state, reference maj
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 it is not
only in accord with the suggestions bat
in accordance witk the eoynestly-
expressed wishes Of the king hts OF Labor,
tbs federation OF labor. and prominent
republicans, democrats, and indepeu.
dents. Its sslient points are as follows:-
First. The ballot shall be printed BY
the public. the names OF ell candidates
being printed upon Q single ballot under
their proper designations.
Second. When the voter goes 90 his
polling place 70 vote he receives Q ballot
from the election { Ulcers. He takes this
ballot into q private compartment and
prepares It ty marking an Z in the
margin opposite the names OF the persons
for whom he wishes to vote. He then
folds 1t, Immediately votes. and leaves
the polling room.
Third, The compartments are to be
situated in o rallied enclosure end no one
is permitted inside this enclosure save
persons entering for the purpose OF
voting, and no more voters are allowed
in the enclosure Of any time than there
sre compartments.
Fourth, Only election officers chalIep<.
ing agents OF parties or candidates and
persons actually engaged in voting ere
allowed in the polling room,
Fteh, Only the ballot printed by the
public can be used all Others are void.
! Sixth, Political partiea that polled