The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-23
Gov. Abbett a Ballos reformer.


Gov. Albeit. OF New jersey, a sterling
democrat. in his message to the legislature,
a synopsis Of which was published in our
dispatches yesterday, comes utsqnareiy for
ballo refo III. He says that the test senti-
nle,it in all tue states dem .uds honest cleo
ti5n', and he IS right There IS seldom an
elect n, nun icipal, state or national. in
which there is OF means used to defeat the
will Of the pc pie, II there is any truth in
the charges which are made relat We to cor
ruption and fraud in elections. In munich
pal elect ms money is freely used for ille-
gitimate TurpJs 5, a d in the last tional
election there is no reas1n 10 doubt
that millions f dollars we're dis -Iibuted in
the shape Of brides to voters in localities
where votes could be bought with fair
DIT SPEC. of affecting esut Of that cleo
ton. 1t is notorious that one man who
now b. Ids cabinet pos ton raised S400, 900.
which is believed to have been used cor
ruptly, and o ly the other day 1t was stated
that the President had pointed to Office
the friend Of a man who had raised cam
pagn fund Of $50, 900 to be used in Indiana
While there is very general agree nent
that reform of the ballet is necessary there
are great differences Of opinion relative to
the system of voting that should be adopted.
The Australian system with soms modifca-
lions has been adopted in Massachusetts and
Montana The reports Of its workings have
been very favorable. In other states objec-
tions to some of its features have been III do
and systems similar t. it havs been pro
posed. Wi hin a very few years some kind
of ballot reform will have been adopted
d ubtless by all Of the states.
The chief feature Of any system Of voting
should be its secrecy. Without that pure
ballot is about impossible. If there is no
way Of finding cut for whom a voter casts
his ballot bribery at elections will cease
becaus no one will care to purchase that
which he is not sure he will get A man who
will sell his vote will not hesitate TO deceive
the one who bribed him, il he can do SO
with safety.
1t is asserted positively that in the great
mining and manufacture s centers of the
north employers control the votes of their
employees by threatening them with loss Of
employment. A secret ballot would put
could vote as they pleased, Wi bout the fear
Of being deprived Of the chance OF earning
a livelihood.
A secret ballot would be the means Of
giving better government to cities. Those
voters who vote on the side on which the
money is would then vote for the best
men. Thore are very few men who
have sunk so low that they do not prefer
60 d to bad gov eminent.
Such a reform in the system of voting as
is proposed would relieve the polls Of the
crowds that usual collect about them, and
Of the workers of the political bosses. The
voting would be done gu city and in an
orderly way. Voters would prepare their
ballots in the secret booths, deposit them,
and 60 away to attend to their usual daily
affairs
Ballot reform has taken a pretty firm
hold Of the country, and Gov. Alb >ett is in
line with public sentiment in urging it uoon
the attention of the legislature of New
jersey,