New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-16

Hague; but Luxembourg is far prize III d
lottery of diplomatic intrigue, OF which he
holds a great majority Of the chances.
BALLOT REFORM ALREADY SUCCESSFUL.
Mr.. Saxton Is ready early with his new Bal
lot-Reform bill. This subject has sprung into
sudden prominence in various parts OF the
Union. II is being widely and earnestly dis
cussed, not only in the press, but In tho mos
sages of a number Of Governors. The zeal
Of certain Democrats for the reform, based
upon the assumption that tho late election
was bought away from them, is amusing
But a good cause can afford to welcome
votes from any source, and il is, therefore, en-
couraging to sec a considerable Democratic
sentiment developing in favor OF this reform.
Thus far only one State, Massachusetts,, has
adopted such law for general use, but this has
not vet been put to the test Of practice The
Australian system is no longer, however, an
untried novelty in this country. In the Re-
publican State Of Wisconsin, and the Demo
cratic State of Kentucky adaptations OF II have
been made for use in the large cities, and have
worked successfully in Milwaukee and Louis
vile. The Wisconsin law applies to cities
having population Of more than $4,000. 1t
requires the city TO provide each voting pre-
cinct with two rooms adjoining each other, one
to be known as the inspectors and voting
room, and the other rs the ticket ROOM All
the windows are screened so as TO prevent any
person outside from looking into the interior
of the ticket room. This is furnished with
tables having compartments conveniently ar
ranged upon which arc deposited tickets pro
vided by the political parties. The tickets are
arranged by the inspectors. and over each class
or kind is posted in a conspicuous place in
three anguages-English, German and Polish
the name or title by which they are generally
known. Each voter is at liberty TO select from
the ballots one Of each kind, if he wishes. The
parties are allowed 10 have custodians Of tickets
present in the ticket room, who are forbidden,
however, TO solicit voters, and challenger,
who is permitted to be where he can see voters
as they offer their votes, but must be outside
of the voting room. Voters are admitted to
the voting room one at a time. The voter
enters the ticket room through q door leading
from the exterior Of the building, and from the
ticket room he passes into the voting room, and
then out Of the building, not being allowed in
any case TO return to the ticket ROOM IL will
be seen that this law does not provide for the
printing Of ballots by the State. But even
with this defect, the Wisconsin law secures
secrecy Of the ballot, which is one important
point to be gained, and has powerful effect
in diminishing bribery.
The Kentucky law, which applies only 20 the
election Of municipal officers. members Of the
General Council and school trustees in Louis
villa and IN tho daforu,; tiou ~ apv nnttaici
pal question submitted to the people Of that
city, is direct imitation Of the Australian
system. Official ballots are furnished by tho
Mayor who is required 10 cause fac-smiles to
be published in the daily newspapers, or in
hand-bill form, on the day preceding the cleo
ton, so that voters may become familiar with
them The election clerk writes his own name
on the back Of the. ballot. and hands it to the
voter with an envelope or paper bag. The
compartments are entirely iDclosed. The voter
must shut the door while he is preparing his
ballot. While still in the compartment, he
folds the ballot and puts IL in the envelope or
paper bag. Any blind voter Is accompanied to
one OF the compartments by a clerk, who marks
the ballot at his dictation, and places the word
'blind' on tho stub Of the ballot-book under
the voters name. Besides the election officers
one agent Of each candidate, previously named
in writing is allowed in the room. These
agents have the right TO challenge persons
Offering to vote, but are not allowed to cleo
tioneer, nor to go forward and backward be-
tween the polls and those awaiting their turn.
The voting places are so arranged as TO leave
clear space Of fifty feet between the room or
inclosure in which the voting is done ami
those awaiting their turn. The provisions
against bribery, direct and indirect, are very
sweeping. The only feature Of this law which
seems to have excited criticism is the use OF the
paper bag which enables voters to conceal
from the election officers the use of ballot
which will be void, and then to carry out TO
the "workern outside the official ballot as
proof that it has been withheld in accordance
with previous agreement. This envelope
system was also in use in Canada for a time
but was discarded. and will doubtless DO
dropped in Louisville also.
The fact that two cities Of such diverse char
acteristics both in population and politics as
Milwaukee and Louisville have already put the
Australian system into successful operation