Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-11-15
NEW ENGLAND LETTER.
WEsTFlELD, MASS, Nov. 4, lS9

WEsTFIELD, MASS, Nov. 4, 1871.
DEAR News: 1t is election day. l
have thought of Kansas many times.
How gladly would have been at
home. You know for what purpose.
Still, | shall not count this day as lost.
| have been enjoying grand object
lesson. You may well ask "What
may it hep" We answer the most
perfect ideal of an election that hui
manity has ever conceived.
While sitting. standing, walking
and talking in one of England's oldest
colonies l have witnessed all eXhibi-
ton of perfect system OF elections
from one of England's youngest colo
MES. Massachusetts using an ideal
developed In Australia. How l wish
il could have been used in Kansas to-
dav, yes in every state in our union.
Nearly two thousand votes cast in a
single hall in single day and no per-
SON knew how another voted. Every
individual stood before his own con-
science and his God and voted as he
pleased. No intoxicants, no political
wire pullers, no neighbor or old friend
were there to influence his judgment.
If this system could have been used
throughout the United States today
how many disgraceful scenes would
have been avoided. To fully appre-
ciate this system one should observe
its perfect work. A description upon
paper is entirely inadequate to convey
its real merits.
We eulogize and glory in our ballot.
lis abuse in America furnishes the
most disgraceful scenes in our history.
This new system shields us from all
abuse. Tom, Dick aud Harry are not
permitted to prepare and print their
own ballots and thus introduce decep-
ton into the first step Of the elective
franchise. The state prints the bal.
lots. The candidates names are sys-
tematically arranged on the same
ticket. No voter today saw one of
those tickets until the hour for ballot
ing. Then those individuals author
lied TO do so opened them. The first
man to vote gave his name aud resi-
dence. If registered, which was de-
termined in an instant, it was checked,
and he admitted to an enclosed space
where he is handed a ticket. He then
passes to high desk where he stands
and marks his ticket to satisfy his own
taste. No one sees or knows what he
does. While doing that others pass
the same way and alone prepare their
tickets. AS they do so they pass to
another desk where they again give
their name and residence, and it is
checked second time. Then they de-
post their ballots in a box where q
crank turns a cylinder which numbers
the ballot and at the same time shows
the number of votes already cast. The
voter passes out by another way, and
by no authority can he be repassed that
day. No man can speak to another
while passing through and voting.
The number of names checked twice
must correspond to the number record
ed on the box by the cylinder. There
is no possibility of mistake or a
fraudulent vote.
This system must become general
throughout the United States. This
system would settle the question Of a
"solid south" the Grace question:" an
educated ballot" and shield us from
all corrupting influences, thus making
our elective franchise worthy of our
American system of government.
Yours truly, E. o. NOBLE.