The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-01-16

CudSel WHICH Ststh w AohSocAy
counted and returned. Improvements have
been made in our election laws during the
last few years. yet all OF the legislation
upon that subject has not been commend
able. The establishment of non-partisan
election boards was step in the right di-
rection; but depriving them of the right to
appoint their clerks Yves step in the wrong
direction There have been also some OBJ
vious omissions to improve the election
laws-for instance, tho failure to provide
that the two clerks of, election, in each vot-
ing precinct must be of opposite political
affiliations. Nothing that has proven bene
fetal should be undone, but additional en-
actnents are needed. Our election laws
are far from perfect, and those who profess
to believe that they are not susceptible of
amendment have failed to study the great
reforms made in other states.
BALLOT REFORM.
The system Of ballot reform commonly
called the "Australian SYSTEM has been
successfully adopted in varying forms, by
eighty-five millions Of people. 1t has been
tried five years in Norway seven in Eng
land and Italy, twelve in Belgium, four
teen in Canada and thirty in Australia. It
has been adopted, with sundry modifica-
tions. in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Indi-
ana, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Tennessee, Mis-
souri,, Montana, Michigan, Connecticut and
part of Kentucky. One of the most thor
ough trials of the system was at the recent
election in Massachusetts,. The late Cover
nor of that state testifies in print that ''No
one would seriously consider the repeal of
this election law and consequent return to
the old election methods. Men Of all shades
of political opinion agree that the measure
has worked well, and that it is permanent
part of the statutes of Massachusetts. In
its main principles it is beyond criticism"
The United States marshal, belonging to
political party in opposition to the governor,
has written the following: "Let me say
that the system is most admirable in Its
workings. There is no more bulldozing by
our manufacturers. They cannot march
their men to the polls under foreman and
vote them ali for one ticket. 1t does away
with every thing that makes politics dis
reputable" Thus it will be seen that the
great political parties, or at least such
elements in them as look for purity and re-
form, are fully satisfied with elections un-
der thisplan. The cardinal features of the
system are: Q) All ballots must be print
cu ctuO Nv YubhS OAPShSCS w
the names of all CT ,tlidates for the same
Office must be printed on the same
ballot; (3) the ballot must be delivered
to tho voter within the polling places by
sworn officers; ~ only ballots SO delivered
can be voted; (5) the voter is guaranteed
absolute privacy in preparing his ballot;
and (6) its secret Is made compulsory. The
foregoing requirements are modified and
altered in detail to suit the views of the
various states and nations which have
adopted them, but the principles here laid
down constitute ths salient points Of ad-
vantage over other forms of election. You
are recommended to investigate this sys-
tenn, and to introduce it, by proper legisla-
ton The details areu left to your judg-
ment. The reasons for such action need
q It be enlarged upon here. 1t is patent to
any one that whom the voter must retire to
absolute privacy in order to prepare his
ballot there is no object in bribing him, be-
cause the bribery fails. Equally fruitless
would be attempted intimidation by en-
ployers, or political bullies, or any of the
,raftier forms of coercion.
In answer to the principal objection made
against the system-that 1t might dis
franchise illiterate voters-it may be said
that provision can be made for such voter
to select one c. the ballot clerks to retire
with him under severe penalties against
1ivulging what may pass between them.
The ballot clerks have no more temptation
TO act falsely than have the registrars and
judges Another means of accomplishing
the same result is to permit the pre- par alton
beforehand by the voter, through some
trusted friend, of ballot initiating the off,
:ial ballot except in color. The illiterate
:an take the prepared ballot into the booth
and there copy its markings on the official
oallot. This shields him from the discovery
IF his illiteracy, spares him humiliation, and
prevents his possible Acknowledgement. 1t
aas also been urged that is is too tedious for
The elector to mark the name OF each candi-
late for whom be desires to vote. To OBJ
Viate this difficulty ballots are sometimes SO
printed that every regularly nominated
ticket stands by itself on the ballot, and can
90 voted as a whole by merely making one
ross mark opposite the caption Of said tick
1T. This does not encourage independence
IN voting, but disposes of the fallacious
charge that voting under this system is too
troublesome 1t may be added that there is
yet one evil that remains uncorrected
oy this reform. 1t terminates direct
is, the purchase of persons
who sell their votes or infuence-but it
loes not check the practice of paying men
;or voting the ticket of that party to which
they nominally belong, There are electors
who would not vote against their supposed
principles, yet seldom vote for them unless
paid. They resort to some subterfuge, such
as demanding payment for a days work; or
other equally bald pretext for obtaining
Such voters can be trusted to re-
tire in privacy and mark the names OF the
candidates for whom they are thus paid to
vote. Consequently this species of indirect
bribery is not prevented by secret voting.
1t is difficult to know just how to reach it.
Possibly, when public sentiment becomes
sufficiently educated, a compulsory election
law, with severe penalties, may be enforc-
ed. It is believed, however, ssthat the ut
tempt to enact such a law would now prove
futile, owing to that want of preparation
in the public mind, without which no osfsc-
tive legislation can be secured.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The subject of improvement in electoral
naturally follows what has just
oOOh oeAAN. &As PiCSSht VIC 6o'OihoA up
points the board of elections in all cities
having over nine thousand people by the
last census. This is not only subversive of
local government, but in the hands Of
IN inscriptions man would lead to fragrant
abuses. Popular will can easily be thwarted
when machinery controlling elections
among one-fourth of the population is in
the absolute power of one official. The
in which this violation OF Demo-
cratic government grew up Is instructive,
as showing how rapidly power increases
when concentrated. 1t arose In legislation
for the prevention of frauds SINH
lar to those committed in the elections of
1854 and 1885 in the city of Cincinnati. En-
powering the governor to appoint an cleo
ton board was temporary expedient to
tide over the emergency In that city. It
was not intended by the trainers of the law
that such extraordinary power should be
vested in the governor. They
subsequently, to frame an election
code which should provide for state, county
and city boards of which the state board
alone might be appointed by the governor.
Undoubtedly some such system ought
to be adopted whereby boards, which
are actually non-partisan, should be created
for state, county and city purposes; but the
governor should appoint the state board
only; and the members of that board
might, if deemed proper, be selected by
him in equal numbers through lists fur
1,<,I l,,I