davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11
Something Electricity is Doing.

Under the title "Something Electricity is
DOING Charles Barnard writes in the
March Century:
ITO the student OF social science tho cleo
trio motor is full OF suggestions for the fu-
ture. If power can be subdiviied and con-
veyed to a distance, why may not our pres
ent factory system Of labor be ultimately
completely changed People are huddled
together under one roof because belts aud
shafts are so pitiably short If power may
traverse a wire, why not take the power TO
the peoples homes, or to smaller and more
hcalthful shops in pleasantcr places! To.
day we find sewing women crowded into q
not, stuffy room, close TO the noise, smell
dust, and terrible heat Of some little steam
engine at one end Of the room. The place
must be on a lower floor because of tho
weight of the engine and the cost of carry
inS coal upstairs. Let us see how the work
may be done with motors. We may take
the elevator in a Wholesale clothing ware
house on Blocker street and pass through
the salesrOOms TO the top floor. The build
ing is lofty and of light construc-
tion, and vet we find in the bright and
pleasant attic above the house tops a
hundred girls, each using power. They arc
seated a long tables, each one having sew
of the table is a small electric motor, one to
each machine. TIE operator has only TO.
touch a foot-pedas and the motor starts, Civ
ing about one-terth of a horse power, at
very high speed. If the speed is too fast it
can be regulated at will by the pressure OF
the foot on the treade There Is no heat,
no dust or ill-smelling oil, and only slight
humming sound, the sewing machine Itself
making more noise than the motor. The
room is sweet, clean, and light, and il is in
every respect a healthful Yorxroom. If we
look out OF the window we see two insulated
wires passing under the sash down to the
eleCtric-light wires on the roles below.
There are people who cry out against the
overhead wires, and would pull them all
down. Some day they will be buried under
ground Meanwhile, is it. not an immense
gain for these working girls 10 he placed in
quiet, sunny room, far from the madden
ing engine; In another shop on Broadway
we may see a different arrangement A
two-horse power motor takes its current
from an electric-light wire in tho street,
and redistcibutes its power to shafting
placed under the work-tables Each opera
tor with touch Of the foot throws her ma
chine into gear, and takes her share of the
two horsepower"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

election. If he is a candidate for a city
ward, township or village office, he ser DIS
his name 10 the city, township or village
clerk, at least eight days before election,
the city Office requiring fee of 500 the
ward and township offices $40, aud the vii
lage Office s..
The secretary of the state and the var
ious clerks are 10 see TO 1t, under heavy
penalties, that the names Of the various
candidates are properly distributed and
placed in the machines.
On election day the voter goes TO the
polling place which must consist Of a
room properly lighted, and separated into
two parts by a railing not more than four
feet high. One side of this railing must
again be divided into compartments for the
voting machines; one for st ties Offices one
for county offices, one for municipal Offices,
and, If presidential electors are to be voted
for, then one for presidential electors. In
front of each compartment is q screen suffi-
GENTLY high to hide the keys of the machine
but not so high but that the cover of the
machine can be seen when raised. In each
compartment Ia a sign in large, plain type
"Raise the cover and vote; having voted
close 1t. DO not open or close the cover
more than once"
After the elector has been found entitled
to vote he is allowed to go into the com
partment in which the voting machine
is standing He sees before him box with
a cover. Raising the cover, which sounds
bell, number of rows of keys or buttons
are disclosed. Each row represents some
one party, and each row is of a different
color. On the face Of each key is the name
of the candidate, while by the side of the
keys is the name of the Office.
The voter presses a button, and it re
mains down. 1t has pressed against roll
of paper underneath making a clear mark
of a figure; which figure is the total mum
Der of votes that particular candidate up e
that time has received. He does this with
as many candidates as he wishes TO vote
for, each vote being recorded in the same
manner. When he has voted he shuts
down the lid of the machine, the keys are
released and the box is ready Tor tho mex
voter When the last vote is polled, the
machine has faithfully recorded and count
ed every vote and it only remains for the
| inspectors TO announce the result.
Thus there is perfect secrecy while the
elector is voting. He goes from one com
partment TO another, and is given suffi
cient length of time in each compartment q
vote. Then he goes out
The bill guards every avenue to fraud
by proper safeguards aud penalties. Eact
party represented on the machine is en-
| titled TO a scrutinizer TO keep watch during
| the time the machine is in use and see tha
the interests of each candidate is protected
against fraud OF every kind. They shal
also examine the machine before the votinl
begins, 70 see that everything is in order.
Two points against the machine ART
raised. 0) Is II constitutional, C2) Ii
1t mechanically practicali
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

All the measures proposed to our legisla-
ture can be classed under three heJds
/. To amend the present law by increas-
ing the restrictions and adding greater
penalties for bribery and intimidation.
2. To adopt the Australian method,
which is sure remedy for some of the
evils surrounding the ballot box
3. To adopt the Rhine's ballot system and
vote recording machine, together with
those portions of the Australian system
that have been found to work satisfactorily
in all countries and under all conditions
The first scheme is simply for temporary
makeshft. IL will satisfy no one honestly
desiring ballot reform. II will not accom-
plish any appreciable good. The present
system is fundamentally wrong, aud patch
ing it up cannot reach the cause of the
trouble.
The Australian system has many good
points, but IL has one chief defect: The
multiplicity of candidates in the United
States makes the counting of the votes an ar
duous undertaking, in which the liability
to errors are great. The system Of booths
is good; having the names of all the candi
dates on one ticket is an excellent idea; but
the Australian system Is defective, as are
all the present methods, when it comes TO
counting the votes.
The claim is made, and certainly with
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

much plausablity, that the Rhines ballot
system and voting machine, in connection
with the bill now before the legislature,
overcomcs every defect in the present cleo
ton system, and meets every difficulty of
the Australian system IL provides per
fectly secret ballot and perfect record Of
the vote. Not only this, but the moment
the last vote is recorded the total vote cast
for each candidate is also recorded, leaving
10 the inspectors only the clerical duty of
transferring the figures from the vote re-
cordlng machine to the blanks now provid-
ed for that purpose.
No sitting up until after midnight to
count the votes. The machine does this
every time person votes. No laundering
over the returns. The machine makes no
plumbers. Every action is positive, and all
who vote are absolutely sure that the re
turns indicate their choice.
The bill calling for the adoption of the
Rhines Vote Recorder and Counter was in
troduced in the legislature at Lansing by
Representative Wells of Wayne county. 1t
is known as File lob, or House Bill No. So
1t has been printed, and anyone wanting "a
copy can get one by writing to any member
OF the house or senate.
The bill covers the for owing points, and
provides the following simple and just
methods to purify elections, and to decrease
the costs to both the state and the individu-
nj candidate
Any candidate for any office can get his
name on the machine. If he is "a candidate
for state Office, he sends his name to the
secretary OF state. with fee OF $50, at
least 80 days before the day of election. IT
he is candidate for county Office, he
sends his name to the county clerk, with "a
Zee fs3O al least 20 days before the day of
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11
Rules of the House of Representatives.

A most timely article in the March Cen
fury, by Mr.. T. i. Reed of Maine, closes as
follows: ut is impossible, and perhaps
would be indiscreet in advance of due popu-
lar discussion, TO indicate the remedy for
the evil which the foregoing simple narra-
tive of facts discloses, but that some remedy
should be applied admits of no doubt. The
remedy ought not TO be radical o. wild in its
character. Indeed, from the nature Of
things it could not be 80. There need never
be any fear lest an avalanche of legislation
could burst upon the country. Do the best
we can our parliament will be clogged like
every other similar assembly in the world
of like scope and magnitude. Two and
probably three changes ought to be made,
and the effect should be faithfully tried.
The morning hour, the length of which
should be entirely under the control of the
House, would, if restored TO its full power
and efficiency offord means for the trans
action of all business of simple nature re-
curing little discussion. Then provision
enabling the majority of the House 10 select
from the public calendars such measures as
il prefers to act on. with due precedence for
revenue appropriation would insure such
freedom of action as would destroy the
illegitimate power of the few and eXalt the
Just power Of the people acting through
their own representatives.
"To guard against the abuse of the mo-
tons 10 adjourn, 20 fix the day of adjourn
ment and of n recess, the simple amendment
devised and read in the House recently by
Mr. Cannon, of Illinois, would be ample and
valuable. That amendment provides that
those motions shall be confined to their le-
climate and honest use, and shall never DO
used as dilatory motions for simple delay
If il is objected that this places too much
power in the hands OF the Speaker tho
answer is two-fold No Speaker would pro-
nounce motion Legitimate on their face dia-
tory and intended for delay until that fact
was apparent to the whole world and il he
did uniustifaby exercise that power re-
posed in him as the organ of the House an
appeal to the House would easily rectify the
abuse. The danger In a free country is not
that power will be exercised too sparingly;
for II so happens that the noise made by
small but loud minority in the wrong is too
often mistaken for the voice Of the people
and the voice Of God.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

CHARLES w. WoLFERTz,
of the firm of Wolfertz' Sons.
Besides the above the ma
chine was especially commended
by VIM. M. Bushnell, department superin-
tendent of the Minnesota state agriculture
fair fer 1888, and at which fair the machine
was awarded diploma.
The blessings to be derived from the
Rhines Vote Recorder aud Counter are
various and many:
l. IL will prevent bribery.
.. IL will put a stop to intimidation.
3. IL will provide n secret ballot.
(. 1t will legislate out of existence the
striker ''heeler,n election day work
err" ticket and p-peddler, and would he
briber.
3. 1t will reduce Legitimate election ex.
penses.
6. 1t will give intelligence an opportln-
ity TO make itself felt.
Z. 1t will make the surroundings of the
polls quiet and orderly.
s. 1t will restore confidence in demo
cratic form of government.
O. II will give the independent citizen an
opportunity 70 show his disapproval Of cor
rupt caucus nominees.
1t is "habit" OF some inspectors to hold
back the count until other precincts are
heard from, and then TO manipulate the
ballot box TO elect their Candidates. With
the Rhnes Vote Recorder and Counter this
Is lUlDOSSlOJts Iut NONtS are Ill COuultu
when the last vote is poled, and with every
party with authorized scrutinizers TO watch
the polls, fraud is impossible.
Concentrations as to the value of the
machine are nnumerable. They are from
the highest authority and from representa-
tive men. A few are appended.
Following is an extract from the leading
newspaper Of the northwest, viz: the St.
Paul Pioneer Press Of date March % of the
present year:
"a bill has been introduced which pro-
| vides for the adoption of the Rhines vote
= recording machine, in connection with such
| portions of the Australian system as will
work in harmony with it. This machine
was invented by gentleman connected
| with the manufacturing department of the
| Pioneer Press, and is "A wonder in its way.
| The voter simply touches "A button marked
| with the name of the candidate, and his
| vote is infallibly designated by its right
number, and he cannot make IL record
| more than one vote for the same candidate.
| Any attempt at fraud is infaliiby revealed
| by the record made by the machine When
the poll is closed the number of votes cast
| for each candidate is found infallibly re
! corded. There is no question that this ma
| chine will do all that is claimed for It, II
| would cost much less than tho Australian
system"
The Minneapolis Tribune of March IS Of
the present year published the following;
AT the meeting Of the political science
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11
VOTING BY MACHINERY.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RHINEs VOTE
RECORDER AND COUNTER.
TESTIMONIALS AS TO THE VAL
UE OF THE INVENTION
To Secure a Fair Count and Prevent Fraud.

To Secure Fair Count and Preve mt Fraud.
Voting by machinery!
What strange sound that has to the
average citiz n.
GLOW FUNNY" exclaimed one. "How
ridiculous !" says anotner. But the ob-
serving and intelligent citizen, noting the
progress in mechanics, and contemplating
the necessity for a thorough overhaulinR Of
the electoral system of the state, remarks:
"Why notp
There is before the Michigan legislature
bin TO hereafter use the Rhines vote re
corder and counter in all state, county and
municipal elections. II is an attempt 10 APP
ply to the electoral franchise perfection
and infalibility attained by machinery
in other directions But the uni
versal opinion of those who have studied the
Rhines vote recorder and counter is that
machine has at last been invented that will
accomplish more toward purifying cleo
tons and preventing the plumbers of in
spectors than any other one thing.
In his message 10 the Legislature, deliver
ed Jan. /, of the present year, Governor
Luce among other excellent and earnest
words spoke the following, which should
burn into every loyal heart of Michigan;
ITO guard and protect the purity OF the
ballot box is the first and one of the most
important duties of the law maker. CUES
tions pertaining to elections will claim
your careful attention. Amendments to
the election laws and a change in the sys
TEN of voting and canvass of votes will
doubtless be considered by you at this SEES
sion. And if it is possible TO more sacred
ly guard this foundation of American lib
erty by providing new or different
method, yOus are most earnestly recon
mended TO consider its adoption. The pur-
ity of the ballot box must be preserved in
such manner as TO protect the rights Of
the voter and command the confidence OF
our people. One of the most dangerous
crimes that can be committed is to corrupt
the ballot Our laws against the use Of inn
proper means TO influence voters are striu-
gent and seem to be ample. Bribery by
the use of money or other valuableS is
severely punished by our laws. And still
rumOrs are current that these wholesome
laws are violated with IMMUNITY. Whether
this is well founded or not, it is weakening
confi1eGce in our system And TO avoid
the injurious effects OF this it is hoped that
the election laws may be amended in such
away as TO render bribery more difficult
and detection more certain"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

The first question, as to it's constitution
atty, is answered in the affirmative by
Mr.. Fred A. Baker, one of the best constitn
tional lawyers IN Michigan, as follows:
DETROIT, Mich, March l6, 1889.
To the Rline's Ballot System Co.;
Gentlemen :-Section of article of the
constitution of this state is "a follows:
can votes shall be given by ballot,
except for such township officers as
shall be authorized by law to be Otherwise
chGSen.n What are the assent ais
of the ballot. 1t is quite plain that the
main and primary purpose o. a ballot is TO
obtain secrecy. The Rhnes
voting machine permits each person TO
print his own ballot, and at the same time
secure the secrecy required by the consti-
tuition. y | see no constitutional
objection TO the Rhines machine or system
or 20 any other system of taking and re-
cording the votes where secrecy and ac-
curacy are attained
Your obedient servant,
FRED A. BAKER.
As to the correctness of its mechanical
conclusive:
Once Of Robert Wolfertz' Sons, Manufac-
turers and dealers in presses, shafting
pulleys, etc, Il Woodward Ave.
DETROIT, Mich, Mach y, 1889.
Mr. f.. S. Burton:
Dear Sir--l have carefully examined the
working model of the Rhines Vote Recorder
which has been on exhibition at your office
% Lafayette avenue, this city, for the past
few weeks, aud most cheeriully give my
testimony as 10 its merits as machine. !
can discover no difficulty whatever in the
way of the machine doing perfect work,
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

Technically described, the
Rhines Vote Recorder is a
box with two covers. On the lid
of this box are arranged but
tons or keys. On the face of
each key is the name of the
candidate TO be voted for.
Each row reading up and
down represents a party.
Each row reading across rep
resents an Office.
Thus on a machine 10 re
cord the vote for state officers
the first row across contains
the names of candidates for
governor, the second for lieu
tenant governor, and so on
through the list. AS each key
is perfectly Independent of
every other the elector merely
presses the one of his choice
for any Office and his vote is
recorded and tabulated with
out confusion in the returns.
The keys as voted are auto
matically locked down as soon
as pressed, and the voter can
make no mistake as to which
ones he has voted. No subse-
quent pressure of these but
tons will accomplish more
than this one vote, as that is
not recorded, nor are the keys
released until the cover has
been lowered and raised again.
The act of raising the cover,
even in the slightest degree,
rings the gong.
Underneath the lid of the
box are rs many rolls ofpaper
as there are offices to be voted
for. On each Of the rolls is
the name of the candidate
corresponding TO the name on
the key or button directly
overhead. S. when a voter
presses a key he makes a num-
Der on the paper under the
name of his candidate CORES
ponding TO the whole number
of votes that candidate up to
that time has received. Thus
each key is simply a number
ing machine which does its
work automatically correct.
There is also on the lid
of the oox a numbering device
showing the whole number OF
votes pOlled.
The whole is compact. sim
/ pie, positive in its motions,
and perfect in its adaptability
10 the needs of a secret ballot,
and a correct count.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11


The recent ratification of treaty OF
commerce and navigation between
Great Britain and Mexico has attract
ed less attention than it deserves.
According to the Mexican press thepro-
visions of the new convention are "of
more substantial significance" than
those OF McXico's commercial relations
with any other country. This means
that Great Britain proposes to lose no
advantage in competition with Amer
lean and German interests for control
of Mexican markets and profit from
Mexican development. In this con-
nection, an article in the Mexican FL
nancier is of decided interest. 1t calls
attention to what it terms the finan-
cial evacuation of Americans and the
rapid expansion of British investments
in railroads and lands, amounting TO
English ownership of the Transports
ton system. 1t argues that the in
vestment of $l65, 900, 900 of English
capital in Mexico is necessarily indie
ative of closer commercial relations
in the near future. The new treaty
confirms this inference. American
statesmen who do not relish the pros
pect of closer ties between Mexico and
England must remember that Mexico
has shown a much more liberal dispo-
sition toward US than we have recip-
rocated and we have ourselves TO
blame if she invites Europeans to a
field from which We voluntarily bar
ourselves.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11


These are the warning tones
of patriots voice. Other pa
triots have spoken A press report
of an address delivered by Presldent-elect
Harrison on the evening of January LIST of
this year, before George II. Thomas post,
G. A r., of indianapolis, reads as follows;
"Gen. Harrison spoke briefly upon the
subject of free ballot and a fair count
He feared no interference from foreign
nations; we were at peace with the world.
Neither did he fear or apprehend civil dis
sensions. The only menace to-day 10 our
institutions and the perpetuity of our gov
eminent was the suppression OF free and
fair ballot. He would like to hear bugle
cali throughout the land demanding a pure
ballot A free ballot, honestly expressed
and fairly counted, was the main safeguard
of our institutions, and its suppression
under any circumstance could not be toler-
ated. He exhortcd his comrades TO stand
up, regardless of partisan feelings, for hon
esty and fairness"
Nor did Mr.. Harrison intend by these words
to characterize features or stigmatiZe dis
honest acts or corrupt political methods ex-
istent in one locality or one section of our
country alone He saw, as other wise and
earnest men see, that the evil alluded to is
more general and far reaching than this.
The cumbersomeness, inefficiency and
enormous abuses Of the present system of
voting Throughout the country have been
the fruitful theme Of thousands Of editori-
ais, lectures and sermons during the past
/ twelve months. Never before in the his
tory of America has there been such a
quickenng of the public conscience such an
awakening 10 the startling facts and alarm
at the probable consequences IL halt is
not called quickly in this downward prog
ress-if some scheme giving additional
| security TO the honest voter be not soon de-
| vised
! WHAT Is TO BE DoNEl
Various different plans have been pro
posed and bills to bring to pass tho
| Improvement of our election ma.
chinery on the different lines, are now be
| fore our legislature, as they have been be
fore the legislatures of twenty-five other
different states the present season.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11

What is known in Europe as the
eastern question, meaning the CUES
ton of the petty kingdoms ard prov
inces lying south of Austria and east
of the Adria,ic sea, is continual
source of vexation and fruitful
source of danger to the peace Of the
continent. They are so small and SO
weak that they are a constant tempta-
ton to few OF the strong powers to
ernmost of them to make her way
clearer to the Bosphorus, and Austria
would willingly appropriate those
nearest her for the purpose of extend
ing her frontier and increasing her
territory. 1t is safe to say that more
diplomacy has been expended on the
eastern question than on any other
matter Of continental interest since the
downfall of the first Napoleon. AS
matters now stand the autonomy Of
these nations is preserved only by the
mutual antagO;liam and jealousy
which exists between Russia and Aus
tria. Could Russia be assured even
that she would have to contend with
Austria alone, she would be very like
ly to mako a dash at them; but the
car fears lest Germany should back
Austria, in which case he might find
an attack upon Servia or Bulgaria o
very costly experiment.