New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02

their employees at the polls ! am advised thai AZ
the recent election I'm many places. employers OF tei
principal forcmcn stood all day at the pohinE-pla
windows and handed their employees lhclr u,Asls a.
vote I'm The presence of their employers or their
focmen. and thereby eieciuay coeicng the Moihns s
an controlling their votes such result Wouid De
impossible II the presence OF outsiders near The
polls could be absolutely prohbitcd and every ecc,1r
permitted select and cast his own ballot SUBS h'aS
In secret.
STATE BALLOTS
II is also suggested that 1t he provided 'h"' oaiu's
for all elections be furnished az public expense u''
suitable and proper regulations The necessity vi
wisdom of this change is not entirely clear anu j
may well be doubted whether Of Itself II VIII prove
Of much benefit be productive of any very esSehual
reform; but. having special objection I" H.
am disposed recommend its adoption a. an eA tSr.
mcnt fgiriy entitled 10 r3Sona,io ul%' ebo,ld bc
power wihch IS liable TO great anus, a,u ,r,,sbed
carefully restricted. While ballots shoul1 ne "a,
for the candidates OF the principal po,aEsN fai ner
ccntage OF votes At the previous ccctlon. ~, az
further provision compelling their furnishing shon p,
be strictly guarded. 1T is not bceVed 10 u iitaI
nor IS just 10 the taxpayers that every oi'
Sv bi baIios nrnted al public expense, regardless
of his merits tho extent of his following or th3 mo,
vcs Ur comDar~d with the great body Of c
zens should not be permitted 10 lmpoao SUI, n,ee
tuied candidate upon the people az puDl.H cNPot t'
simply TO crafty his personal vanity or the prefer"
sions Of small faction. . ., ..o,,,, l,,b,c,
IS being much discussed Dy those NlO az pi.n'n
know little concerning 10 requires every candidate
!
Of election Including the furnishing Of ballots.
tho Australian system IS to be departed liui III
particular and ballots furnished for candidates SIaln
itously 1t IS important that the number OF such can
didaics should be properly restricted uhuer sono "P
avc objections exist TO provisions vssng 1 we
exclusive power OF furnishing ballots IN .ae
county. or city, That power should tc coiV,,ul
With parties. candidates aud individuals , , lV
state county or city may furnish Daiiol' anu To-
always insure a sufficient supply for the t
of voters and thus tend to relieve candidates lrr
tho necessity of large political Assessments Tor su.n
candidates or private individuals may not ihchs iNoS
be permitted Voluntarily to furnish their own isi2'e
made for the selection of ballot cleFlS. VINO shonnt
have charge Of the ballots thus furnished az Pnnlc
expense and these clerks should be stationed ln,uc
the reserved boundaries. behind desk or couhitr,
and should furnish the electors upon REQUEST luiI
set or sets OF all the printed ballots Electors sh0nu
not however, be Obliged to ask or receive thcir D@o
from such clerks bnt should be permitted 10 suppN
or In any other manner they cnoose a. mn i Uc
residence. or elsewhere. and being mus snpp,eu,
shoild have the privilege Of casting their ballots I~
a. they have prepared them. without the assistance or
Intervention Of any ballot clerks.
Many unanswcrahe arguments can hc adfucrd why
the power privilege Of furnishing all the ballots Tor
a county or city should not be vested cXcusVcF III
single public Official such power Is uhpfc-
ccdcned In this country Is unncccssary and DANGEROUS
In the extreme. The great value of orr present chc-
ton laws has consisted in the fact that powers are
largely diversified and that is practically Impossible
for any single election official by HE sole inadvertrnce
negligence, cheating or crime. TO lnct any material
injury or cOnSummata any extensive fraud IiU y
the sole custody Of all the ballots for county should
be vested in County Clerk. and those for tn, cry
Of New-York In the cork Of the Bureau Of Elections
then there IS placed in The hands Of single Official
vast opportunities for fraud ami deception HIS ca,'-
cesnrss corrpfon or crime I'm the printing or manip-
NATION Of the ballots in the delav or Withholding
thereof. in their entire loss or destruction. might
virtually disfranchise the electors Of whole county
horcby u IS not believed tla tho RIGHT OF hundreds
% thousands of electors TO exercise The elective iran
chs" should ho made 20 depend upon the honesty or
careflncSS 81 single Official IT.,
Nrlfhcr should thcrc hc permitted any marNng oi
/ oars IL I.- rln flaf
ltials thereon or otherwise. Such Identification IS
! unnccos earv and virtually DESTROYS the secrecy of
the ballot essential for the prevention cf coTnT,
tion and intimda'ion substitutes I'm the place Of
an absolutely socret ballot mere promise oi s%cIcc.
on The part OF two subordinate officials. Brsd"S, ~
is quite clcar that any such provision Is in Violation
( Of the Constitution o. This state.
II Is significant that tie new election law Of Massa-
chusotts which was paSsol last year. hut which does
not 20 Into effect until November hISt next. has
omitted all provisions Iulring ire m M Tf %
clcctols,. thus departing essentially in that respect
| from the English or Australian system
ELECTION DISTRICTS.
For the purnose Of further facilitating pure cleo
tions Is recommended that election DISTRICTS through
ont the state be made much smaller. and that tie
division Of large districts be made mere compulsory
ard more encctuql remedy provided for the prompt
Enforcement Of such division There are numerous
election districts IN the state where nearly thousand
votes are polcd. thereby creating confusion ifduc-
I ing crowds, inconvenenclng electors. and hs'ennS
tho OPPORTUNITIES for the detection Of fraud and cor
ription II i, obvious that If It should be provided
thai where any district has poed over certain Auil-
bo, Of votes-for instance over three hundIed-at a
previous election rs vote should not be counted al me
next election unless the district shall be divided such
a provjson would have the wholesome effect Of com
ucIlinc officials political committees. or citizens st-
orally f. that The duty Of division is peioimcl
Another suggestion j. Pertinent at I'm, lllc. our
ele lions should be free from intimidation a. Wei a.
from corruption The cyl! Of bribery IS ia,l uidcr-
mining our institutions and is the disgrace or me az
bu III. wrong of intimidation ard undue influence Is
also becoming common and is likewise dangerous.
TIE FRANCHISE OF wORK1NGMEN.
A new form or species Of Intimidation wa inventH
and much Icsorted Just lefore the recent election
IN some portions OF the state. which was equally a
effective "a Improperly influencing electors Employ
/ ers uf worbmcn in paying their men, placed ucir
pay IN envelopes called pay envelopes which had
been furnished the employers by political commit
tee uJon which envelopes were printed political mot
toes devices and arguments, intended TO influence the
! worl1nen, and among other thing, warning them IN
substance that their votes for particular CANDIDATES
meant loss Of work, and containing implied imcais'
ard intimatng that work would be stopped ana they
and Their children would suher slaIN ool 81" WA.
| otherwise be injured unless ihcy pun sucl ceFlaH
political course. These envelopes were ioistcd upon
he wOrlmen, who were Obliged 10 accepi them ID or
! der 10 receive the wages which were honestly uu'
frs. ten worbmcn and defer them from voting he
Ticket of their choice IN opposition to tie "i.aes Oh
ploycrs thus take advantage o. ucir w0iknen II
is a contemplate. outrageous and unIusthaDc pro
/ cccdng. and ! recommend thai The use OF any surA
envelopes be declared unlawful and punished a.
crime. \ specific statute is necessary 10 r&cA acts
OF this character
is submitted TO your attention whether II may no.
he expcdient TO require each candidate Tor punll'
Office al general election 70 file with tie secretary OF
state within days after tie election verified state
mcnt OF all moneys expended by him in an OF hl'
election during the canvass showing somewhat IN de
tail The purpose and nature q. III, Oh uisc'n.ni, a!
providing proper penalty for his failure 20 10 40
II might 10 advisable 10 declare HAT the failure q
any candidate rs Tile such statement Should Work
forfeiture OF his Office.
Last veal there passed IN the state 81 Mas Il
chusetts act entitled An act TO facilitate Noun
I by employees which provided that on any day oi
which any state National election occurs ihrii
should be period Of t"O hours after the oIciin
Of the polls when any err p0yc ia any mauuf, turing
mechanical or mercantile est abshmcni in the Slat
should have The privilege Of cea-ng work ard g".n
10 The polls vote. IN case he j. legal Voftr am
has made application for such leave OF absence; am
PROHIBITING any cmIlO. er fCm having any WORK dom
BY any such cmploye during -uch period Of TWO hour
The object OF such cnactma Is manifest. u
a.. a. dom fitHH D.