Telegram-herald., 1890-10-19


from ballet. bat such. II seens 10 ne.
could NOT have been the case. espe-
clally the secret ballot
The ancient Greeks selected their
magistrates or decided political que+
tons by secret vote. for which purpose
they used different eolored beans st
ono time they used only tho pole beans
Hence the term, from the Greek, going
70 the polls" IL was one OF the most
interesting and thrilling sights, we are
told. 70 SEQ the Greek on election day
selecting his ballot from the bean baS
before casting IT,
In the selection Of candidates certain
colored beans were chosen by the pTima-
res % correspond with the candidates
they were 10 represent Sometimes a
packed primary would decide on a style
OF bean 10 be cast for an unpopular can
didate, knowing that the last quart Of
that brand OF bean had been eaten at
breakfast the previous Sunday. Had
that happened here style of vulcanized
rubber bean Of the same general appear
ance would have been made In the night.
The Greek origin Of Boston is established
by the history Of the ballot. think.
At Athens the dic2sts-whateve that
may be-used in giving their verdicts
balls of stone called psephi. or Of metal
called sponduh, whence comes the term
spondulix or money, which has also been
associated more or less with the ballot
throughout the history Of the world.
Those pierced in the center or black in
color signifed condemnation, and
though this, Of course, was hardly politi-
cd balloting 10 soon led TO it.
Petahsm, which was so popular in
Syracuse at an early day term which
has nothing 70 do whatever with pessi-
rnism. was a system Of voting by words
written upon the leaves Of the olive. By
using the plain leaf the voter signifed
"I give you leave" but by making GER
tain other Greek characters on the ballot
it meant Leave the Office alone" Or it
might be marked so as to mean I'VE
beleave not in you"
The Romans first monkeyed with the
divine right Of suffrage in the year 139
3. C.. using wooden tabell9 placed in
the cista-a sort Of basket or wicker
box. These were marked U. r. (uti
rogas) or A (antiquo) IN the case of
proposed law. and L. Qibro) or d. dam
nol in the case Of public trial. Tho
Roman custom Of using the word damno
upon casting the ballot has given rise to
the custom by which politics and profan-
ity are still seen SO often going hand in
hand down 20 a drunksTds grave, to
see if ne Ia - It, and, il not, with the
idea Of utilizing it themselves.
| have an idea that the Australian
ballot was also used in Rome az least q
century before the birth of Christ, for it
Is a fact that at that period the wooden
tables used IS ballots contained the
names Of both the candidates. and had
puncta or holes opposite the name used
or voted for.
In Great Britain tho ballot was first
used in l662 by the Scots parliament in
proceedings in the "Billeting act, which
was a measure for ostracising and other
wise dishguring a few political oppo-
nents. Each member of parliament wrote
IN a disguised hand on a piece Of paper
the names OF twelve people whom he
didn't Ike and whom be would bs glad
TO ostraCise. OF at least help hold while
some one else did it.
These names were put IN n bag, which
was at once sealed up and sent to the
excheQuer chamber The king repudi-
atei this act. however, in f50j. At the
present time voting is done in Great
Britain a cool deal the same as it viii
be done in this state hereafter. 4 cross
a made after the name OK the candidate
who is voted for. the names being IN Al
rhsbetical order on the ballot. Zach
voter has a chance to 60 sud coUmune
with himself wb.ls thinking who he viii
~e-1 for Fer thts aurnasa b he's a 'ist'@
bc)th. 70 which be can seCrS,ly retro
! along with his numbered or stamped bal
lot. and unless ais thoughts are highly
+ vociferous they cannot be hesrd outside
the booth. OF. II heard. they vii Be 80
iadistinct that the law is really com
+ pied with in spirit as least.
Australia has a good method. which is
called the Kangaroo method, sud has
worked So well that Csuvasslnsr Tor votes
has practically disappeared there, and
sheep stealing is on tie decrease fou
f are of course familiar with this method
more or less, Thorndyks. and so I need
not 80 into detail. bat the principle Il
thsre "a well - here. that even # you
buy a voter yon can never feel sure that
be VIII not Be rerlevied ~ some one elsa
A uian who win sill his vote viii also
lie. CIR isave his honor in the Grand Cen
trsl depot. therefore vou can never feel
sure q a voes unless after buying st you
see that Is is deposited and counted.
ct ccuntei as lssss This method VII
insure secrecy. and slso give the Teter
wilhelm The booth a chance N think over
his cast he. Il permissible. thrilling