Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-18

qulred TO place opposite each name he de-
sires to vote letter TX, as shown above
In case there is more than one man to be
elected-as for senator-and the elector
wishes to vote for all three he can draw a
straight line past the party candidates in
stead Of making an *" which would indi-
cate who he was voting for.
Upon receiving his ticket tho voter goes
into one OF the booths and prepares his ballot
as above indicated If he is blind, illiterate
Or otherwise incapacitated for preparing it
he must call one of the officers To assist him;
and if ballot becomes soiled or torn it
must be returned to the judges who will
Issue another-endorsed as before Every
ticket must be either cast or returned u the
Judges so as TO prevent fraud BY not allow
ing ticket TO be taken from the polling
place would insure a secret ballot, for then
no man could be voted by striker" as ia
often done now. Under such "a law he could
cast ballot in full accord with HIS senti-
ments. No one, aside from the duly quail
fed officers is allowed TO talk to him or enter
the booth in which he is making out his
ticket When he has his ballot prepared he
folds it in such a manner as To conceal tho
face and expose the endorsement on the
back, hands il to the inspectors, who identity
IL as official by the endorsement on the back
sees it placed in the ballot-box and passes
put at the other side Of the room from which
he entered.
The law further provides that the tickets
must be furnished by the state. This pro-
vision is a wise one 1t closes the last gate
TO fraud. No one but an official-appointed
or elected-who had sworn 10 faithfully and
lmpaytally perform his duties would be al
lowed TO handle or furnish tickets, and then
under restrictions. Through such an ar
rangement ii would be absolutely impossi-
bic for any party or parties to secure an Off
cial ticket. prepare II for bribed voter.
have him enter and call for another, pretend
to fill il out, pass In the one he had been fur
nished and carry the one given him by the
judges TO the conspiratOrs on the outside,
who would thereby be able TO 'fixn voters
as under the present law.
AL this would be prevented Workers at
the polls would be dispensed with, and tho
expense attached 70 q campaign would be
reduced 70 almost nothing.
In order for man to have his name ap-
pear upon the official ticket il was provided
in the bill vetoed by Gov. Hill, that state
nominations were TO be certified fifteen days,
and local nomination ten days, before cleo
ton; nominations of a political party which
ut the next preceding election polled 3 per
cent of the whole vote were 10 be certified
by party officers and independent nomna-
tons, If for state office were TO be certified
by a thousand voters aud if for local Office
by hundred.
Mr. Post asserts an incontrovertble truth
in another sentence, when he says, ALREADY
poor men rarely obtain political advance
ment without assuming obligations % be
redeemed by official perfidy, and the obsta-
Giles to unallied candidacy have become so
great as TO often prevent and always 10
discourage independent nominations
To this system IL is objected that by re-
quiring nominations TO be made in advance
of elections IL denies a constitutional right
of voters to select candidates from the
whole body of voters. From such eminent
authority as Judges Cooley, McCreary nd
F'olger, and the highest courts of Pennsyl-
vania, Massachusetts and New York, il
may be safely inferred that a restriction of
the franchise TO candidates nominated a
short time before election is a reasonable
regulation and not an unconstitutional
interference; but the inference is not ne
cessary, since the system allows each voter
| to reject all candidates and write new
| names upon his ballot.
1t is objected, also, that by requiring the
| blind and illiterate to expose their vote TO
election officers, secrecy of ballot is as TO
| them violated. Under our present system
| voting is not secret; these same illiterate
and blind voters who would be required to
expose their ballot TO the election officer I'M
| der the Australian system" have To do the
same thing now, under our present law, but
| 10 less reliable parties; theresore the ballot
| would be as secret TO them IA il ever was.
Some faults are also found with the ticket
| herewith presented, many thinking IL would
be better to have each party ticket on sep
arate slip Of paper which would prevent
confusion, and probably. aid the judges in
| their canvas
The states should adopt this law, with
| such amendments IA may seem necessary,
and thereby make il impossible for charac
| terless men 20 foist themselves upon com
| munity; and make il just "a possible for men
| --psor in purse, but rich in intellect-to be
| elevated TO positions OF trust and honor
Workingmen, and honest business mer
generally, should join forces in one ATTEMPT
| TO have state senator's and representatives
introduce and pass the law known as the
Australian System"