The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-30
TO MARK The BALLOTS
lnssniOus Invention Of a MlSsoula Gen.
tleman.
A MIGHTY CLEVER PLAN
Almost Human Intelligence OF a
Machine That VIII Not Allow
Voter to Make a Mistake In
Marking His Vote.
Special to the standard.

city Tor an invention that promisesto rev
olutionise the manner of marking and can
vassing ballots and entirely do away with
the present objections of the Australian
system. Under the present SYSTEM the
ballots are generally very large In order to
give plenty of room for crosses opposite
the names of the chosen candidates, and
still many men make the crosses between
the names or cross out the names OF the
candidates they do not desire 10 vote Tor,
thus frequently disfranchisine themselves
in part al least and giving grounds for
disagreement among the judges. Mr..
Dougan's invention obviates all these dif.
fculties. The ballot is small. private
booths are not needed, the vote
Of the largest precinct is tai
lied as the ballots are cast
and may be read from n dial a minute
after the polls close; the ballot Is per
fectly secret, and the count correct. And
still this result is accomplished without
any innovation on our present system, so
far as the voter is concerned, save that be
makes perforation in his ballot where
he now makes cross, aud is prevented
from making IL anywhere except opposite
a candidates name.
In order that voters may easily aud
accurately make these perforations each
polling place is provided with a number
of devices called ballot holders, consist
ing simply of two perforated strips of
wood, between which the ballot is held
while being perforated. These strips are
about one-fourth of an inch thick, an inch
wide and Of any length required, as u or
Is inches. They are hinged together
few inches from one end, the part back
Of the hinge forming the handle by which
il is held. while al the other end there is
fastening for holding the strips together
while the ballot is between them. The
perforations in the ballot holder corre-
spond with the names on the ballot, and
each holder is provided with an instru-
ment for making the perforations.
When the voter has made out his ballot,
! he hands II, IN the holder, TO one OF the
judges who places IL in the vote register
ing machine. For each perforation in the
ballot holder there Is in this machine a
corresponding vertically moving needle.
each needle having an Independents
movement. These needles are OF about
the sire and length of q common sewing
machine needle ana are ior'neu Oh 'ne
lower ends OF strips OF steel ABOUT u
inches long ana OF ABOUT tne ~iu'n'
thickness and temper of the blade Of an
ordinary case knife. The ends of the
needles instead Of being sharp are blunt.
lhey nave movement OF ABOUT one anu
one-fourth inches, ana Tor each needle
there Is corresponding registering
mechanism. lhey are raised ana low
cred 10y the turning OF crank, half turn
allowing Them all 10 go down ana an
other hall turn bringing them all up.
! When ihe ballot, IN the holder, is placed
IN the machine, the perforanons IN u are
directly beneath the needles Inc Judge
turns the crank ana eaeh needle having
u periorauon oeneath u goes GOWN, WINE
the others remain up supported py he
ballot. When the crank mas made haif
turn there are needles down Tor all per
forations in the ballot or, IN other words
for all candidates voted Tor ana needles
up Tor all candidates not voted ior' lhe
further turning OF the crank forces the
needles that are downagainst their corre-
spending registering mechanlsms, mus
registering vote Tor each candidate hav-
ing perforation opposite his name.
The ballot is then WITHDRAWN from thls
machine and IN similar manner regis
tered In another ike machine from winch
it's Withdrawn. and, while II Is sui IN
the holder, inserted IN the ballot oox'
knob on top OF the box is pressed, the
ballot caught ana beld, the Fastening on
the end OF the holder loosened, ana the
holder is WITHDRAWN, leaving the
ballot IN The box. lhe machine
would seem TO be possessed oil
human intelligence, TOT u VIII not regis
ter improper or illegal votes. Should
there be number of candidates FOR the
the same once ana No'er through mis-
take' ignorance OF uesisn' 'o'es ior more
unah Que Oh 'nem' 'ne ihacinne VIII ho'
register any Vo's On Una, paIlo' for uat
ONCE pu' VIII register All 'he o'her Votes
properly cast ror example. suppose tina,
there are iour ucAe,s III ule neid ahd
eaGh uohe' eoi'alhs uie names oi 10 can
uiua'eS ior represen'n'Ne. p', Snouiu the
eiec'or ,p'e ior ,'iore 'ian 10 Vi Tue can
ulua"s 'uv l,IS sn,in W., no' 'es,,"r any
'oVe gn wa. JAM, ior ula' onice' Du'
snoulu ln' ne .oe to' 20 or a less humber u
wIli re. rss,sn, ,isso, ne no'e s wne'nsr u oe