The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-03
Nobody denies 1t in...thc church. But in
spite Of all this the color line exists. And
what are we going 10 do about it?"
RALLOT REFORM


but little disagreement:
]. As to the secrecy OF the ballot. Every one Of
the nine laws requires the erection OF booths or
compartments, Into which the voter shall, after
receiving this ballot. retire and, free from all OBJ
seryaton, prepare II for the polls. Tho proportion
OF booths TO voters varies somewhat. Tho Mnssa-
chusctts law says not less than one for every soy.
onty.hye voters. The Indiana law divides the
whole state into voting precincts, each containing,
las nearly as practicable 200 voters" each polling
place TO be provided with three compartments.
The Montana aud Wisconsin laws require one
compartmcn, for every atty voters or fraction
thereof the Rhode Island, Missouri aud Connecti-
cut laws require not less than one for each 100
voters, the Tennessee law not less than
three, and the Minnesota law not less
Than two for each 100 This Is very slight
variation The important provision IS that oil cE'
cept illieralo and physically disabled voters are
absolutely alone while preparing their ballots.
The method OF marking the ballots varies som,'
what In Massachusetts,, Montana, Rhode Island,
Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota ana Connecticut
the voter Is required 10 place an opposite the
name Of each candidate for whom he wishes To
vote. In Indiana he Is required TO make the mark
with an official stamp furnished by the election
oficcn Tor the purpose In Missouri he is TO
quircd 10 erase the names Of all candidates he
ticket except those for whom lac wishes to vote.
2 Ballots printed aud distributed ~ the public
expense. Every one OF the nine laws proyidra
that the ballots shall be printed and distribute
at the public expense THIS provision takes away
all excuse Tor assessments upon candidates, nud
removes from the polls all ticket pedder, work
er, aud "heeloiA"
q None but Official ballot. to be used Every one
of the niue laws forbid the Use OF any except on
cial ballots. There Is considerable variety Ia tho
methods provided Tor the marking Of the oiicld
ballots by the election oniocis In such way as to
prevent the use Of limitations. The Massachusetts,
law requires that ION the back aud outside, when
folded. shall be printed 'Onicla ballot for fo.
lowed by the designation Of the polling place ior
which the ballot l. prepared the date OF the cleo
ton. and facsimile OF the signature OF the sccro.
| tary OF the commonwealth or city clcik VINO has
caused the ballot 10 be- printed" The Indiana law
requires the poll clerks Ia write their initials in ink
on the back " the ballots. The Montana Law r..
luircs the election oihccn 70 stamp On the Tack Of
each ballot before handing the same To th, voter
the words ''Onclnl ballot" The Rhode Island aud
tennessee laws copy the Massachusetts, mohod
Tho Wisconsin, Minnesota aud Missouri laws 10
quifc the poll clerks To write their initals ON the
backs OF the ballots. and the Connecticut law 10
quircs them " write their full names on the backs
d
Every QUE Of tho niue law. contains With slight
notifications the principle nut embodied Ia the
or ginnl saAton bill. allowing independent nomi.
nations by means Of petitions or nomination pa.
pcn. In this way citizens who nrc dissatisfied with
the cgular nominations for a given olllco cin by
uniting On favor OF suitable candidate huvu his
name printed upon all the Official ballots nud have
Il distributed NJ the polls on equal terms with tho
names OF The regular party candidates
Besides this comparison Of the laws
passed both by Democratic and Repub-
lican Legislatures, which every friend Of
ballot reform will appreciate aud thank
The Pod for, that paper gives US some
thing as to the genesis Of tho reform which
will also be found worthy Of preservation
Tor future reference. II says
II was IN the spring OF iss5 that agitation Of the
subject ui ballot rciprn hrt took formal shape.
The discussions Of the Commonwealth Club, Of this
city. icl 10 the formation OF committee 10 draft
q Law cmbodying the punclplo Cd The Australian
method Tor presentation 10 tho New YORK
Legislature Previous o. this time mo- Compfchfn.
sl,c mca,uW oi the kind dssirci had been out
lined The nearest approach Ia u had bc'u bin
which had bccu presented 10 tho Michigan Lat.
laiuic early Ia is,5 but this. while interesting az
containing the Frfm q the INFORM principle, was
incomplete and Inadequate.
The Commonwealth cub cominlilsc were not long
lndl,co,cflns that their task was no light one. aud
that no satisfactory measure could b. drafted In
time Cor presentation 3, the LcgIsitur, Of that
year They accouiinsly postponed ~ Introduction
tlil the iollosing y,hL Thoy spcnta great deal u
/ umc during me fan aud Water at is,l In prcpar
iug hl aud ciry in thc session oi is,s 10 was in.
/ to1uci This was the ofgiunai saNton bill II
ha. undergone many changes sinrc ~ INT piosen.
taton. but In principle. aud largely IN methods OF
applying the Australian ,ysicm ~ American elco
ton laws. Il fumaius today substantially the am,
a. Il was ~ nrst ~ Ecncuily have is merits bccr
rcognifcd that u has been ia iic the bal, oi MI
tlic nine laws which have iinro tccn ,uicitd. ~
leadlng principles worc An Oh ,luirIv secret DO
lot al ballot, 90 h. printed anl dsiilhu,oi NJ 40,
! public expense. nono bat onriai ballots 30 BE- tc
cclycd At the polls provisions for indcpcndgn
nomination. fhv.o puncpl, will ~ found, u
/ practically the same iofm To- all tho laws passed
as a hfci examination aud comparison OF thcl
icniing Provisions will show.
But the saxton bin did not become Law
owing 10 the Governors veto, which IN,
majority In the Legislature Tor ballot 70
form, ior some unaccouniablc reason, wa
unwilling To encounter and attempt 10 pas
the IN over Il. W that Massachusetts, whic
passed similar bill In that year (lsSSD
was the first 10 pronounce for ballot ~
form. The other States named iollowc
her example this year, aud New York
which again passed the Sixion bill. WI
again defeated OF iis purpose Tor "a irc
hallo, aud fair count by another vet
by Gov. Hlill. Il ought also Ia be said th'
a sccrc, ballot law Tor Louisville, passc
J by the Kentucky LEGISLATURE, and whic
+ was disputed 10y tho hummer politician
I Of that city," was confirmed as con,iitJ
iional by ,hc Supreme Court Of that Stat
and islikoly 10 become the Law OF that stat
This Is the genesis Of ballot reform ialrl
s,aicd-a reform there IL reason 10 hoI
, may grow until ID embraces all the Stat
and ''all sorts aud conditions OF mon" I'm
In Il protection from the criminal elias
which trades Ia votes, s,ulTs balloi.box
and conspIrcs by means Of "blocks OF ly'
TO ncuiraliza the votes oi honest citizens
- lIrBu is a enc example OF indopen den
u which comes 10 rs all the way from Ca