Omaha daily bee., 1890-01-02
EVIDENTLY MIslNEoRMED.
Senator German aud the Australian
Ballot System.

OMAHA, January |.
10 the Editor of THE Bee: l read with
considerable surprise a dispatch published in,
last evenings issue, from Baltimore, in
which the Hon. Arthur P. German is quoted
as follows:
''Our majorities from natural causes are
growing less and the want of thorough co.
operation among our people has cut down
our maiOrities. The elective franchise has
been abused. Money has been poured out to
capture elections fraudulently. As for the
Australian system You Ind better label il q
bill to throw the democratic party in the
river. This system has had two trials in
this country, one was in Boston the other in
Montana. The former, for years a demo
cratic stronghold, went republican at the last
election under the Australian system by be-
tween five and six thousand majority for the
first time since 1864. Governor Houser
writes me from Montana that we should
have carried the state instead of having IL
hanging In the balance. The system that
removes the voter from the influences of
men OF intelligence to a box, leaves hin to
the danger OF money power. You pay a
voter if you pay him at all in secret. BY the
Australian system he Is open to the corrupt
influences of bribery more than ever. Other
matters are to come before the Legislature
that are of vital Importance, but this is the
ono great thing to consider"
And this from a democratic United States
senator! He wants the democratic party
Nao w. "a INV VIZ DdDSI5 " lShb
tho bill because it has been demonstrated in
cultured Boston and in wild and woody Mon.
tana that under it the republican party gains
In strength, and for no other reason. His
assertion that under the Australian system
the voter IS more than ever under the infiu-
ence OF the briber Is one of the most brazen
attempts to mislead the masses, by merely
asserting an untrpth-which u man of Cor
mans prominence should lave avoided
that the Intelligent and reading public has
been treated to lately. A man who knows
anything nj all about the provisions of the
ballot bill, which has been introduced and
passed by IA number of state lepisluturcs,S
knows that bribery is the first evil it eradi.
Gates. The man who would attempt to bribo
an %elector, where the modified Australian
election law is in force, would be a fit sub.
ject FOR q lunatic asylum. Whyl Because
the law, modelled after the Australian sys-
ten, provides:
1. That the ballots shall be printed by the
state.
2 That they shall be distributed by sworn
officials only.
8. That d single ballot, or a single set of
ballots, be given TO each elector.
A. That no one but the sworn election onl-
GERS shall communicate with the elector from
the time he enters the polling place until he
leaves.
3. That in case a ballot is soiled or torn il
can be exchanged for another.
d. That no ballots but those furnished by
the ntatc, stamped and initiated, shall be
coonted.
7, That no one will be allowed to carry a
ticket away from the polling place.
Under such provisions what man would be
foolish enough TO attempt TO corrupt a voteri
To illustrate, would YOU purchase of a total
stranger u horse you had never seen. Day for
the same and expect the animal 10 be de.
hverod at your barn! Would YOU purchase
OF the average run OF your acquaintance a
piece OF property without seeing its Would
you order OF the average dealer any article,
pay for the same and trust to his sending
yon the thing you wantedf IL You failed TO
get the horse after paying for 1t, who would
have boon acting the part OF the foolishf IL
the property, instead Of q fine residence lot,
was IN q hole a hundred feet deep, what
would be your estimate Of yourselfi be-
lIeve there would be about as many men
VINO would ouy votes under the Australian
law as there are business men who would
buy the horse OF the stranger. MIR. German
Is either very Ignorant or very untruthful.
respectfully. JOHN O., THOMPSON.