The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-25

ballot box ana the purity of elections
has naturally caused persons to lose
sight of the incidental protection
which It affords against some of the
minor dIscomfOrts and disadvantages
of the present system of voting. I'm.
douhtedly first and foremost Is the
protection which 1t throws around
the individual voter. no matter how
humble, how dependent. how poor.
how illiterate. He can. under the
protection of any law framed upon
the Australian model and embOdying
its essential principles. vote absolute
~ as he pleases and not at any mans
dictation or behest. Nobody can
follow him into the privacy of the
booth or compartment where he pre-
pares or marks his ticket. Nobody
can see or know how he votes. Mo-
body can punish him for voting as
he chooses. That is the great and
fundamental point. But there il a
minor advantage to result from the
adoption of the law which consid
erahle class of voters will be able to
appreciate. Besides the illiterate
voters there are the aged, the sickly
and the infirm, for whom certainly
existing methods of voting in this
city make no adequate provision. 1t
Is somewhat striking illustration of
the proverbial conservatism OF our
people that the system of voting in
this city has not changed in one i'm.
portant particular since the first cleo
ton by ballot-by white or black
balls or beans-ever 80 many years
ago. We still vote in the open air.
All our elections have been held in
the la,e autumn-in the months of
October and November-not unfre-
quently among the most inclement
in the year. A ballot box placed at
an open window. to which the voters
may have access from the outside, is
the simple and primitive provision
made in this city for the exercise of
the right of suffrage. 1t is just the
same in rain or shine, snow or sleet
just as if there were no houses or
comfortable rooms In which the pro.
cess of voting could be carried on,
and as If it were an unwritten quail.
ticatiOn to vote on stormy, slushy,
sleety days that the voter should be
proof against, or at least Indifferent
tOalI perils of pleurisy or pneumonia.
Seriously. in the matter of making
provisions for the comfort of voters,
and particularly of the aged and in
Arm, we have not advanced in this
city one step beyond the red Indian
or the most primitive barbarians
among whom elections by lot or bal.
lot were ever practiced. Elsewhere,
in other States and cities. the prac.
tice Is to vote in room indoors. and
for that the Australian law makes
express provision. The spectacle of
a Baltimore sidewalk election on a
rainy or sleety day Is one to excite
the mirth of New Zealander or Tas.
manian, not to say of a New Yorker
or BOstonisn. Before the multiplied.
ton of election precincts the evil was
even greater, and there cannot be a
doubt that the unavoidable physical
exposure in bad weather incident to
the primitive method of voting pre-.
vailing in this city frequently oper-
ated as a practical Acknowledgement
of q large number of voters whose
delicate health and infirmities male
1t impossible for them to take the
risks Ofsuch exposure. The Austral.
ian system of voting has this addi.
tiOnai feature to recommend it-that
it accords with modern and civilized
ideas and customs and with the prac.
tice of other communities, 1t will
he a reform in itself when the twin.
dow" is deprived of its power in
our local elections. and the possession
and control of the "window" ceases
to figure in the calculations of local
politicians. Amidst a multitude Of
other foul abuses the Australian law
will sweep away the dlsgraceful
spectacle OF the ordinary sidewalk
polling-place. with its familiar and
offensive surroundings and associa.
lions. In the decent and orderly
polling. places provided for by the law
there will be no room for the "hust-
Ter" and the "heeler." the election
slough" and ward .rOunder, as there
will be no opportunity or occasion for
the exercise of their peculiar talents
or the employ ent of their disrepu.
table services.-BGNo. Sun.
4 III n