Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-04
Governor Green, Of New Jersey, pro-
.ounces for the reform system. saving:

N-ouHCtS lOr Tie IclONLu ~ SSNiu, say ing
No other plan seems to oser so many advan-
tages as the complete isolation of the voter in
preparing and casting his ballot. In order TO
make this isolation complete the tickets should
be printed at public expense and given TO the
voter by public officer just before voting.
In April the new system goes into effect
in Rhode Island. and the officials of that
commonwealth say that the people are all
unanimous in favor of retaining the new
law upon the statute book.
In Missouri the new system applies to
all cities having over five thousand inhab-
itants. The testimony is that the leading
sentiment now demands that it shall be
applied to all voting precincts. In Mis-
souri, the law provides that the name of no
candidate other than those nominated by
conventions of delegates shall be printed
on the ticket unless accompanied by petit
ton signed by enc per cent of the total
vote of TIE previous election in the State
or county where the candidate is running.
Governor Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia,
faEors the system, with some notifications,
for his State, and will bring the matter be-
fore the Legislature.
The New York Herald8 correspondent
says that it is practically certain that the
latest notifications of reform methods of
balloting will be adopted in Iowa this win
ter. The new Governor has declared en-
phatically in favor Of them; and the
Democratic platform at the late election
pledged its party to the passage of such
laws.
Governor Eagle and the State officers of
Arkansas pronounce emphatically in favor
of the system. They say that it was not
due to any objections to it that the bill
embodying it did not pass the houses of
the last Legislature.
In Tennessee the popular will fayors the
system. Governor Taylor says that the
law which established it in Tennessee has
not as yet been fairly tested. He adds;
But it has been sufficiently demonstrated
that it is q good law and will eventually be
adopted in every State of the Union. 1t ought
TO be universal in its application. 1t would
purity the ballot-bcx, and would make fraud
almost, II not altogether, impossible.
Minnesota has adopted the new system,
and Governor Keyes, who signed the bill,
says
1t is the best means yet devised to reach a fair
test of the wishes ofthe people. Men who have
sufficient brains to read and think for them
selves need not under the new law be under the
surveillance of ward bosses. The ignorant and
luiterate however. are IN about the same con-
ditiOn as before. No voting law has yet been
devised whieh-ean put them beyond the wiles
of political tricksters. Il is only in force in
Minnesota cities of 10000 or more inhabitants.
1t has been tested in local elections in Minneap-
oils, saltwater and Duluth and, strange to say,
it is commended by the managers of both great
parties and the people.
In Maine the Mayors of every city and
town have been interviewed" upon the
subject, and all of them declare that the
people insist upon the establishment of the
new system.
In West Virginia Governor Wilson, in
calling a special session of the Legislature,
includes, as one of the matters to be con-
sidered, the framing of new ballot law
on the model of the reform system. The
reports from West Virginia are that the
sentiment favoring such action predomi-
mates largely. Kentucky, Iowa, Maryland,
Wisconsin, Mississippi, Arkansas, New
York and Delaware are looked upon as
certain to adopt the system as soon as the
bills can be got before the Legislature.
These added to the seven States that have
already adopted the new method of ballot
ing will make force for it, that it is
scarcely possible the opposing elements in
other States can long resist.