New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-07

Messages by Governor, Campbell of Ohio
and Wilson Of West Virginia give much
reason to hope thai in those two
states ballot reform may make sub
Stanja progress this year. Notwithstanding
there are Democratic maioriticS in both LcelN-
aturcs Governor Campbell argues maniuIly
in favor Of the Massachusetts sy~l I'm, with th"
official ballot. against which political >chcmcrN
like Governor llill protest, and hi, answer, to
many objections raised are well considered and
forciblc. They make Mr. Campbell! appear
as a statesman of great stature IN comparison
with the pgmy product, OF ba.lot-boX knaycN
in New orl. aud Ncv-Jor>cy.
In hi, argument ON this subject Governor
Campbell touono, one point 20 which this Jour.
nal ha, frequently referred. that an owl of
greater magnitude than direct bribery a, re-
spcctS the mere number Of voters concerned.
will remain uncoircc'"d namely. tho refusal Of
voters 10 vote for their own party unless hired
to 60 10 the polls. The Governors message
suggests that the difficulty may possibly ho
reached by a compulsory election law with So
we're pcualiic.. bat that public opinion D, nor
yet sufficiently educated To- insure th" enforce
men, Of such law and without sustaining
public opinion the evil cannot Immediately Joe
rcmedicd Possibly there may he simpler
way. Refusal ~ vote n aji j, not necessarily
an offence. The conscientious citizen may
sometimes find that hc can DO more good h}
refusing to vote for either OF tNo unworthy
cand!datc, than by voting n ALL Neither D,
mere neglect or forgc'fuin">> Am oiicnc. of such
magnitude A. 10 require penal legislation. Ia"
real crime against free government hc, ln Try
ing 10 be- pad for doing ono, duty a, citizen.
1t may not bc found entirely impossible. even
now. 10 provide permanent di,irnchi,omont
rs a penalty for taking q bride or seeking 10
be- hired ss4G ,h:r'- particular penalty the worn,
crS Of either 6ir&S could 50 effectively enforce
that not many voter, would consent 10 put
thcmSclyc, into the power of such workers
Governor Wilson rcciics the fact that Mas
Sachu>cttS, Connecticut, Indiana Missouri,
Michigan Illinois Kentucky. Tennessee and
Montana have adopted ia ,ariou, forms what
is known 4, the Australian ~ -tom, and that II
has been found wherever tried. far in advance
Of the old mode of voting. He therefore sub
mitS "A bill which provides for the official ballot
with elaborate provisions against baot-boN
S,unng repeating and other fraudulent de-
vices, II might bee well for him to send copy
to the Democratic Governor of Ncw-lor>. in
order to inform that official that Democracy III
West Virginia is not exactly dependent, ~
Democracy in Ncwl orh conicSscdly is, upon
the pcrpctuation Of fraud for success.
There seems to be good reason to hope that
the recommendations OF these two Democratic
Governor, will hc followed 10y speedy action.
Legislatures in both States are close and the
Pc Ia. b.,u,t,b
by their associates in other States unless they
meet halfway every sincere Democratic move
mcnt toward publication OF the ballot box.
II is scarcely conceivable that these two COY
crnorS would have taken the position they do
without assurance of some support from mem
bcrS of their own party and there ought 10 ho
no cap,iouS difficulty about details on the Re
publican side 50 long IL the measure proposed
embrace the vital features Of the desired re
form