Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-10-17


grow, the price of nominations rises,
independence is shackled, and the Or
ganization becomes more Indifferent to
party principle as its monopoly of polti-
cal power strengthens. Born of the
necessity of volunteer machinery for
preparing and distributing ballots, it
develops into q powerful instrument,
which, in the hands of political iobbers,
enables them to buy and sell an office.
| Already, poor men rarely obtain politi-
cal advancement without assuming abli-
CATION to be redeemed by official perfidy,
and the obstacles to unallied condidacy
have become so great as often to prevent
and always to discourage independent
voting.
A DEATH BLOW TO DOODLE WORK.
This political monster would be des-
troyed by the Australian system. If the
state assumed its function of providing
ballots, there would be no necessity for
"workers" at the polls, and the excuse
for raising, as well as the best. mode of
using, corruption funds would disappear.
Assessments could not then be levied
upon candidates, for when workers at
the polls are not required, machines can
neither serve nor injure. Nor would
nominations be sold; for when candidates
stand upon an equality in respect to
election machinery, and there is no
opportunity for bribing voters, organiza-
tons merely as organizations, have
nothing worth buying, while organiza-
tions as representatives of principles
cannot be approached through CONNER
cial channels. Trafiicking in office would
be replaced by political discussion, the
nnwnr nf tho ,puphinn 1u tha ,,oi,n e
the party.
THE OBJECTIONS.
To this system it is objected that by
requiring nominations to be made in ad-
vance of the elections it denies the con-
stitutional right of voters to select candi-
dates from the whole body of voters.
From such eminent authorities as Judges
Cody, McCrary and Folger, and the
highest courts of Pennsylvania, Massa-
chusetts and New York, it may be safely
inferred that restriction of the fran
chise to candidates nominated short
time before election is a reasonable regu-
lation and not an unconstitutional inter-
ference; but the interference is not
necessary, since the system allows each
voter to reject all candidates and write
new names upon his ballot.
EXCEPTIONS TO SECRECY.
1t is objected, also, that by requiring
the blind and illiterate to expose their
vote to election officers secrecy of the
ballot is as to them violated. Under our
present system voting is not secret; it
was for that reason rejected by the Brit
ish parliament and the Australian sys-
TEN adopted. The object now is to
secure secrecy, but in aiming at that we
are confronted with class of voters to
whom exposure of their ballots to some
body is necessary, and an exception
must be made in their favor to prevent
their disfranchsement What form
which shall be consistent with the
highest degree of secrecy can that excep-
ton take? If allowed to carry their bal
lots away these voters fall into the hands
of irresponsible and perhaps dishonest
persons, and may be made, innocently
or otherwise, instruments for perpetrat-
ing some form of the "Tasmanian
dodge" If, for their benefit, official
ballots are generally circulated, all eff
forts for secrecy are frustrated. And if
they are permitted to take "friend"
into the booth, the door is opened for
the bribery of every venal voter who is,
or can successfully pretend to be, unable
to read English. Exposure of ballots
must be prevented by every means that
ingenuity can suggest; but in exceptional
cases in which it cannot be avoided it
may most safely be confided to election
officers, who represent opposing parties
are under oath of secrecy and fidelity,
can be readily detected in malfeasance
and when detected are liable to severe
penalties. AS to blind voters this seems
TO be the only course, but respecting the
illiterate any exception to the general
rule may be avoided by identifying the
names on the ballots with numbers, or
by printing them with inks of different
colors.
GROWING IN FAVOR.
There is reason to believe that the
Australian system of voting is about to
receive favorable consideration in all the
states where election abuses have been
seriously felt but its adoption would so
surely dispense with machine organiza-
tions that there is also reason to fear
attempts at essential modification. These
are likely to be in the direction of allow
ing the delivery of ballots to parties and
candidates before election, and distri-
button as well by workers at any time
or place as by sworn officers at the polls.
A little thought will show that this would
continue the power of political machines
and endanger secrecy. Any such modi-
iication no intelligent and sincere advo-
cate of electoral reform can accept, for
in this matter it is not true at this time
that half loaf is better than none"
1t were better that the reform be delayed
with the force OF public opinion pressing
1t forward, thanthat inefficient measures
| should allay public opinion by seeming
to meet its demands. Details may be
compromised, but essentials must be
required at every step in the agitation
These are, that ballots containing the