Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-12
DAILY RECORD UNION
SAY, -. .TEe eUARy 4 1889
THE ELEcTIoN ReFnRm

Concerning the election bill, and which
in the main the RECORD UNION has APP
proved, there is very much of current de-
bate, out of which good ought to come.
The strong features of the proposed meas
ure have been pointed out and commended
in these columns, and the weak and dan
geKous ones forcibly assailed Il is the
part of cowardice to fail to renew the pro-
test against the Numbering and indorse-
menI Of the ballots. The draft of modi-
fed bill on the subject has been received
frem the Young Mems Democratic League
OF San Francisco, an organization that APP
pears TO be sincerely DESTROYS of political
reform This bill provides also for mum
boring the ballots and the ballot stubs
But the number of the electors ballot is to
be entered opposite his name on the poll
list, fer which we cannot see any sufficient
reason. When the voter is ready to cast
his ballot its number, which is stamped
upon perforated end is torn off and the
ballot is then deposited, while the tag
is % be placed with all others in an en-
ye.ope and sealed up. The ballots are all
to De printed upon official paper OF uni
form character, with secret water-mark,
changed for each general election Munich
pal,and general election tickets are to be
upon distinctly differently tinted and
water-marked. The private booth system
is retained.
This bill is a great improvement upon
the Federated Trades blu in so far as it
requires secretly marked ballot paper, new
marks for each election land thus prevents
coanterleiting) and rejects Endorsement of
the ballots by the election clerks, thus
coneeding the objections of the RECORD
UNION TO be well taken Why not now
abandon the numbering? OF what use is
1t If the voter must procure his ballot
OF the election officers which is to be torn
fta stub of secretly water-marked
pafer, and if he cannot leave the
boo.h until he deposits his ballot, or
surrenders it to be destroyed if he
concludes rot to vote, how will it be posi-
bic for him to commit fraud upon the bal
lot-box, or to be eowed by "bosses into
voting as they wish? The RECORD UNION
long ago pointed out that the imprinting,
or water-marking, or .back-printing of bal
lots by the State would be necessary; that
suggestion is adopted in the bill sent by
the Young Mems Democratic League.
The next thing to do is to abandon the
numbering system, because, like the dis
carded Endorsement clause, it renders it
possible for the secrecy of the electors bal
lot TO be invaded. When the election Of
fcer tears off the ballot number it will be
matter of no great difficulty for him to
SO handle the ballots as to identify, when
counting, the ballot of any number he may
wish TO spot" Still the League bill is a
great improvement upon the Federated
Trades bill, and if one or the other must
be taken, the League proposition is i'm
measurably the superior one in the essen
tials of ballot-printing and ballot-casting,
and in the matter of penalties for viola
ton of the law. 1t is faulty, however, in
the omission of a section requiring the
ballot stub-book to be returned with the
ballots and poll lists. thought also to pro-
vide some new method for choosing cleo
tion officers so that it will be rendered less
likely for the political bosses to name and
control them. They ought to be chosen
with as much care as iuries are drawn.
should be passed upon by the Superior
Court, and objections heard to their CON
hrmation as such officers.