The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-11-28
VICTORY OF sALLo r REroRu.

Before November 1883, the Austria
iiIn ballot was almost unheard of in
1 this country. The subject of ballot re-
form was interesting only to little
groups of refoTmers who are generally
sneared at As theorists, and who
! amuse. irritate. and, if numerous
enough to accomplish anything, anger
the practical politicians. But sotne-
thing happened in November, 1885,
which changed all this. The coDclusit IL
of ii campaign conducted by Quay
Dudley aud CIarkson aroused vide
spTeap demand from the masses OF the
people for a law that should secure n
secret ballot, and thus prOtst;t the
voter from intimidation from his en-
ployers, and protect each political
party from bribery on the other si'ie.
This popular demand WIS resisted in
some places by Democrats; in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Mary
land and Tennessee by republicans.
Bat in some states the voice of the
honest people was really too strong
to be dehed by the politicians or
either side, and though this demand
for secret ballot. and for polling
booths free from workers and ''Spot-
eeIs" only dates from the publication
of Dudiey's blocks of five letters, and
the consnmation of Quay's work in
Brooklyn the night before the election
yet on November 1, 1890, the Austria
liar ballot or modification Of il was
in uppeFatiOn in i3 states- In New
York, New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana,
Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ten
nessee and Washington the expert
nent was then fOI the first time made.
In Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode
island and Montana it had been en-
plOyed before.
The universal testimony is that the
secret ballot law was an entire success;
that the elections were unusually
quiet and orderly, and free from SCAN
dial as well as violence; the voting was
rapid; and few ballots were lost by the
ignOraliee or clumsiness of the VO,er. |
Every objection tirtt has been made !
in advance was disproved by the prac- |
tical test OF the new system.
The general testimony to the superb |
Ority of the new system comes from F,
both political parties. Looking at |
the general results of the election, it |
certainly does not become democrats |
to object to the secret ballot. Fur
thermore. ve believe that the more |!
nearly tho original Australian law has |
been adhered to tile more satisfactory |
the results have been. .-Ehs -eonces- |
sions made by the advocates of ballot |
reform to the practical politicians
of both parties have not been Justified |
by the results.
The Indiana law follows closely the |
lines of the original Australian law. |
Owing to the extreme clOseness of |
elections in this state n gOod deal of
has always attached to Indi- |
ana returns, and undoubtedly much |
money has been spent there by both
p9rties. OF the late election the In |
Sentinel says that it was |
the quietest, honestest and
MOST satisfactory ever held in the |
sfaie,' that tile 'hoaters' generally |
STAYED at home,'' that ''the trusted |
men with the necessary funds cut no |
fignie worth mentioning" and that the |
''iaw worked like a charm and has |
i'll a new and better era in the |
politics of Indiana"
In Ohio the republican politicians
hiCve Succeeded in preventing ballot |
reform and it is in that state where
employers have been Furnishing their |
workmen by discharging |
them or reducing their wages. We |
have no doubt that the republican con-
trol of several northern states have
been maintained solely by the ihtim- /
idation of workingmen by their en-
ployers and IL really secret ba!lUt is
euually in the interest of popular
and the democratic party.
Democrat.