Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-31
The Ohio System ". the Australian.

WOrtnuY.
The OHIO System y. the Australian.
There seems to be general disposition
IN the public mind throughout the Union
20 improve upon the election methods of
the several States. III some of the States
the advocates of improved methods as
sumo il TO be a settled fact that the Aus
tralian ballot system is the nearest 10 per-
lection of all those which have been sug-
gested or proposed or accepted either in
Australia or elsewhere. The Alugwumps
take 10 the Australian system with an APP
proach TO unanimiiy that is astonishing.
TO read what The Nation says on this sub
ject week after week must be a treat to
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. Mr.. EoosLsrIT,
md the rest OF the gentlemen who evolve
ballot reforms out Of their own inner con-
BciOusness.
Truth to say the Australian system has
seemed to work succcssfulyin some Of the
northern cities. BUT whenever the ques-
ton arises as to whether or not that sys-
TEN would operate satisfactorily IN the
southern States southern men are COM
PEELED TO shake their heads as If in doubt.
ii there were none but white voters in Viz
ginia We would not hesitate 10 favor the
adoption here OF the Australian system.
But the fact that our negro population IS
capable of casting nearly or quite one hun
dred and fifty thousand votes must give
US pause. We recognize another unsolycd
problem. We cannot foresec the result Of
turning loose 50 large number of ignorant
voters-voters totally incapable of cycr-
cising the right oi suffrage intelligibly.
We wait for more light
Seeking for more light we come upon Mr.
HNsTEAD, of Cincinnati, who has faith IN
the Ohio election-laws, bat has none in the
Australian system. lie warns IA as follows:
THE secret ballot ia needed o( course.
We secure that in Ohio ly drawing line
one hundred feet from the poll and per
hitting none to pass II but voters m the
act of voting. They are not approached
by any one TO boss orsupcryioe. They have
their ballot prepared a. they please. No
one has the chance 90 sec H.
This is better than place with stalls,
In which voters are expected TO hide them
selves with ballots as blg as tablc-clOths
provided Officially (Which means n Job aud
"a chance for a fraud, and then when con-
Cealcd TO make a mark OppOnte the name
OF each candidate for whom the ballot Is
20 be cast"
The complications intended to protect
the ballot become the machinery of coz
Yuption, intimidation and falslhcatlon.'
:" Ii happened recently in Alasschue
that q great number of voters marked only
the names of the few persons on he big
ticket for WhO0 they had persona. care.
The labor OF checking of the names was
diiiiculty-and a multitude Of citizens
are not able 10 do il satisfactorily. Right
there is an Immense opening for abuses,
and tho elaboration of complicated pro
coedings gives the sharp, shck citizen
whose trade is politics hooks and corners
in which TO get in his fine crooked work.
Mr. HAIsrEAp has kindly sent Us pam
phlet copies Of the Ohio electon-lews and
registration-laws What would our Viz
GINA people think OF law which contains
provision authorizing the Board Of Flee
tons TO notify voter that he has been APP
pointed rs registrar, or judge, or clerk,
and must appear before the board at once.
and that his failure 70 comply herewith
will subject him 10 a penalty Of one hun
bred dollars or imprisonment for fifteen
DAYS. OF both? Such l. feature OF the
Ohio law.
In Ohio sick voters and voters who eX-
poet TO be moro than fifty miles from the
city on rcgistration-day can be registered
by the secretary" If they make oath to
the facts. On recistration-d or election
day mo person shall congrogate or loiter
within one hundred feet OF the polling
place Of any election or place Of resistr..-
ton" of voters. Immediately upon the
close of the polls the number ii
electors lyOtcrsl entered and shown on the
poll-hOOks as having voted shall be first
certified therein and signed by the Board
Of judges and the clerks, and before any
other or further proceeding the chairman
of the board shall make proclamation IN
q loud voice in the street outside Of the
pOlling-rOom stating the number of voters
60 shown and certified on the poll-hooks."
This is "a wise provision. A hundred Wit
ncsses may be able 10 testify how many
votes the chairman said had been cast be-
fore he had heard from any other precinct.
The election board "shall have power" TO
employ messengers. to use the telephone
and telegraph. and d.rec, he polio5 force"
There are several provisions like the fol-
lowing:
In every township IN which no person
received any votes at the preceding April
election for the Office OF trustee except the
person elected. aud in every township IN
which the trustees are not all members Of
the same political party. the trustees shall
be the judges" (ot elections)
This secures impartial election officers.
Every township which has majority of
Republican trustees will have majority Of
Republican Judges Of election and oVar,-
township which has a majority of Demo-
cratic trustees will have majority Of De-
moeratio judges Of election. And If trus-
Tee had no opposition when he was elected
trustee surely he would be impartial.
These few extracts from the Ohio law
will suggest 10 our lawmakers that there
may be good features in the election-laws
Of any State, and that Virginia ought to
have the benefit of all such laws.