Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-15
Ballot Reform.
fEor tho Dispatrh.l

Many Of your readers like myself were
pleased TO read the admirable article IN
The Disp1tch of the 8th instant on this all
important subject; but as far as the people
of Virginia are concerned it does not mat
ter so much whether we adopt the
whole Of the Australian system or
not. The gist of the matter, and the
one feature that there should be
no question about, is that eliminating from
our elections the intimidating colored Re,
publican ticket-holder, and this should
certainly be done at this session OF the lie
cislature. As your contributor so well says
in speaking of the solid colored vote (the
italics are mine): This vote gathers
around the precinct boss and By that means
is Kent solid. He holds the ticket and with
them the lash OF social ostracism and re-
ligious intimidation. Remooe han and ne
smell IS broken. This boss and the IN
timidation removed many believe that the
colored voter would begin to realize the
inevitable. would begin TO think for him
self that he would discover who were his
best friends. that the best element among
them would no longer antagonize those
who give them employment, edu-
cate their children, aud take care
of their insane. At any rate it is
reasonable to believe that they would
be less a danger individualized than IN
solid phalanx as they are now" 1t Is said
that the Legislature cannot agree upon
this subject. Possibly some OF the more
timid members are afraid of OVERRIDING the
matter. but all must agree that something
should be done. and they cannot do less
than TO amend the election-laws and
abolish partisan ticket-holders and pro-
hibit every other species OF race lntimlda-
ton. If the tickets were III the hands OF
one of the judges of election for distribu-
ton a day or two before the election, the
secrecy of the ballot might be secured Dy
the voter who desired TO vote secretly get
ting his ticket and preparing 1t the day be-
fore the election and voting on the day of the
election quietly to suit only himself. The
ticket-distributo might be selected to suit
both parties as near as practical and sworn
to ilnpartiality and not to disclose TO
either side names or data for partisan use.
Each individual voter, especially llliterates,
could then choose unhampered OF their
own free will and accord whom they would
take into their confidence, and thus they
would become accessible To intelligent
argument. reasonable persuasion. and all
better influences than now. Ii might be
made unlawful for any one TO say or do
ANYTHING that has any tendency to
compel the voter 10 tell how he votes.
leaving him free from any influence
TO prevent him from free choice
of whom he shall be guided, so that
he can stand in his own shoes and vote
alone to suit only himself if he desires, and
not as now be almost compelled to put him
self in the clutches of the ticket-holder
because the ticket-holder forces him to let
him see him vote the ticket given him.
While there are some more intelligent
colored people. at least one half of them
firmly believe they are compelled to vote
only the ticket-holder's ticket, and they can
only be undeceived by having no boss on
election-day. At least. then the thousands
that express the desire TO vote with their
friends at every election can do so without
fear. G.