St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-10-02
GIVE US BALLOT REFORM.

GIVE US BALLOT REFORM.
The more it is considered the more
favorably does ballot reform strike
the average level-headed Vermonter.
We are wont to be pretty well salts
fed with ourselves up here in the
hills. We are proud of what our
state and its sons and daughters
have done, proud of the steadfast
political record that long ago gave
Vermont the name of 1.-The star that
never SETS" and we are little accus-
toned on account of this pride to
arrogate to ourselves all the virtues.
1t was easy on this account to scott
at the idea of our hill towns and
flourishing villages needing an Aus
tralian ballot law. 'Our politics
are as pure as our mountain air,
said our optimists and state pride
caught the word and passed it along.
Fortunately for the state it has
keener and more candid, though no
less patriotic, observers. With all
the pride in their state that was held
by their more optimistic friends they
recognized the fact that no man is so
good that he may not be better and
that the same truth applies to COM
munities. Because they love Yer
mont and wish to see her in the
forefront as the representative of
purity and justice they call for ballot
reform.
1t is no use for us to disguise the
fact. Our voters are often subject to
influences which under the present
system of balloting they can hardly
overlook. 1t may be that old ties
from which they fear to openly break
away warp their judgment. 1t may
be that some local magnate, whose
power is not to be lightly defed, has
interests to advance of more impor-
tance to him than use to the state,
and his poorer and perhaps DEEPEN
dent neighbors have to obey his
behest. They are not bulldozed.
There is no outcry about it, but the
irresistible influence is there Just the
same. Or some large employer in
our factory towns similarly controls
numbers of his employees. Even
ha
magnates and some of them their
large manufacturers, who may not
be bad men, but whose power is
great and who will not hesitate to
use it for their selfish ends, and to
quietly make their influence felt in
such way that resistance will not
be thought of. Even against such
eminently proper and civilized
tyranny as this the humblest voter
should have adequate protection
from the state. He should be free to
vote as he will without running the
risk of having mortgage foreclosed
on his farm or of being thrown out
of employment or of being black
listed in any way because he does so.
Nothing can ensure this freedom of
action SO well as a perfectly secret
ballot.
We have dwelt upon these phases
of the question because they are
more common in Vermont elections
than bribery or open 'bulldozing"
Against these more open forms of
election tyranny the secret ballot is
likewise an adequate defence.
The states are rapidly falling into
line on this question. The Austria
liam ballot system is proved success,
and most successful, where, as in
Massachusetts,, it has been adopted
in its most complete and thorough
form. In that state even the small
hill towns of 500 inhabitants or less
give unqualified testimony to the
benefits of the law
Vermont should lead not follow.
The Legislature of 1890 should be
quick to seize the opportunity to
align the state with the vanguard of
progress, before it is too late and we
have to take a huniliating position
along with the baggage train and
the camp followers.