New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
I'd as an additional safeguard for secrecy 1t may

exclusively O1Cldl DfllOt was nT1l pIOpV'N"' "'N
Official ballot is permitted there should still be inter
Of an nnofciaI ballot. which an eectOr can prepare
at his own household with the assistance OF M id
or trends, II necessary anu os porket, or otherwise
is right which firmly believe The electors u, 1h9
state do not desire TO surrender IL vo rs1'
especially dear to old men, to lndePendeh. th
To nauraized citizens who read, speak ana Wrtc 'nc
English language very imperfecty, 70 RU4r n,e" bUt
Others who are unfortunate as 70 9e o t
who do not desire to expose their llhUerasS ~ ~
%beT obt Ra eeo 19e Who desire more than
moments in which to prepare their ballots; inc eA
istence of an unofficial ballot does not ahe1 5e een
ton Of secrecy one way or the oth%. ~ han oeem
urged in quarters that a brlDer can give , al.
eector unofficial ballot and then the electCr o a'er
evidence voted the ballot which the broer gave
him. The clear answer TO that Is; S, tha tnS oro oSy
he voted as the ballots here proposed would ali De
alike in form the official and the unofficial as well
and the fact that the elector returned WIN 'e
of tickets not voted. would prove nothing as ne so
easily obtain any number OF sets OF chc anu vb ,a
brber would have no means of knowing wherei "hfn
or how he obtained them, or ,r now m me- ri
fact voted: and. second inc ,I mea' thc
bringing away from the polls of any ballots after
voting The suggestion of this argument against me
unofficial ballot looks like strainng point upon when
Ia base an objection when one does not in fact exist
The system Of both official and unofficial ballots
would operate without any friction, ana would pre-
serve the brnsent form Of ballot to which the people
are accustomed. There Is nothing % Substahllal
and it Is electoral reform rather than mere ballot re-
form which IS impSativcly demanded.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
This thought leads to the suggestion that there
are other desirable provisions which ought to accom-
pany any complete and comprehensive measure on
this subject numerous statutes upon Kindred topics
should be avoided and one enactment should embrace
all the important legislation which is desirable upon
the subject matter.
a. The Massachusetts statute entitled An act 10
facilitate voting by employees should be included. 1t
provides in substance that all emploSes III man
umcturng, mechanical or mercantile es'aohsh"'. s
shall be entitled TO Il period Of two hours on cl5ctoh
day in which to vote at any general election. Mo-,
e. That species Of intimidation frequently resorte1
to before important elections By the USE OF political
pay envelopes in which To pay employees ther
wage, should be specifically prohibited and hcaNS
o. Each candidate and the executive committee Oh
each political party should be required to publish an
pended by them in each campaign and the particular
purpose, Of such expenditures, recommended ths
IN my Annual Message of one year ago. ana re''r'o
a. Legal facilities should be afforded whereby a
,uccc, full candidate who can be shown 10 have OBJ
tanned votes by bribery on the part OF hhi7ei. n'
agent his political committees, may be outed from
ONCE by the defeated candidate. and the later gwen
the Office In hi, stead provided II appears that nelInc
The defeated candidate nor his committees nave useu
any corrupt means to promote his election. In,
would encourage prosecutions, ana put premium
upon honest candidacy. ,
The two lat provisions g. and A. aDGye re[C
Of Great Britain: which has scc9mpIshed more h nor
the publication Of elections In England thah any oIcr
reform that has ever been tried II j. the universal
testimony there that these two provisions nave
rendered large expenditures on the part 81 Weai'S
candidates extremely dsngerou, and unprohtable
90 1t should De provided that election di'trlctSS
should not contain over urce n H,ur,u S n @r
means should be afforded for enforcing euch a pro
y,ion The necessity for small election districts be
comes imperative under the proposed secret compart-
II Is to he hoped that the Legislature will enter
upon the preparation of proper measure actuatr1 uS
the sole purpose Of accomplishing something pract'ai
for the good Of the state uncontrolled by PARIS.
clamor The cause Of true reform Is not promoted Dy
loud defamation or by unNecmll proleetatlons OF
attachment on the part Of H. pro:cs-ed friend'
over zeaOuSnesS become, suspicious N sucil Ca'c,
and invites the conclusion that partisan advantage
or cheap reputation is the object sought rather tian
f,rtnnat@Iy' more or Ic,s ,elishncss, Intolerance
hnatclsm. ignorance and hypocrisy winch attach
themselves to every reform movement. and electoral
reform ha, not been without barnaces Of these kinds
Conspicuous such apparent advocates but real
are men Who have no ~ymlstuhE WIN
universal suffrage and who would restrict II If they
could d0ctrinares who though never having passed.
ia, al the polls. believe themselves '1pi3le 3 !iaIns
law which Will correct al abuses and VINO obstinaf"iv
refuse to accept suggestions from men of practical
experience. and dcmagogues. who. having felt the
u1uular pulse seek the public ear at every oppor
UNITY. and. parrot like repeat the cry for ballot
fg aG in n. ,o,on ignorant Of the detail, Of any
measure proposed. unable or unwilling to conprehenl
Tie constitutional objections encountered ana reahy
to upnc uupatriotic and base motive, 10 thoughiul
and cautions men. who decline - acknowleIge tlr
wisdom ~ every innovation suggested uhurr inc
al'urng name of reform. 1t i, unfortunate that 80
prai,eWorthv q cause should be injured by Hu,n
auc- touablc and o~tent1touS Championship. IL VIII
f. unfortunate il influence, which spring from these
narrow and h-otcd sources shal prevent the Isl,
l,fnrc and the Executive from agreeing upon \
r,n,r law FOR the correction Of the great evils when
now exist
TIE PROHIBITION AMENDMENT
Two wear, ago there va, proposed in the Leci,a
tur, ,g amendment 10 The Constitution known As the
Prohibition amendment which was agreed 20 by
majority OK The members Of each House That amend
mcut was as follows:
ARTICLE -.
section /. No person shall Manufacture for ,alr.
r @ o G SrfP l' G.acd frmc , or DISTILLED Tc
Ir-i-.A'urc shall hy law prescribe r@snlaions for re
enforcement Of this article and shall provide suitable
reuat', for IFS violation.
Under the expires, provision, Of the Constitution re
a.ne - amendments Article NIL sec. H. this amend
ucut j. referred" 10 the present Legislature for ac-
tom thereon The propricty of It's approval FOR tho
second time J., one of che questions Which must necc'-
-trily cuErO~s your attention.
do not believe That the people OF the state favor
the adoptiOu Of thi, amendment. Their sentiments
mon mi, question have been tested and EXPIRES ,cd
ton frequently leave much doubt a. to their position.
regulation of the liquor tnhc by just and equitable
excise laws rHdiy enforced observation and cA-
aAcn. that constitutional prohibition is not the best
mean, OF preventing or mitigating the evils Of In
continent elsewhere is evidenced in the result OF r-
emit elections in the state OF Massachusetts. Rhode
-ldNd, fcil'FNdNd ana 'oluccUCNl III Whlch the ,
question OF Prohibition Na> directly or indirectly n-
NOlVc,!
:, may properly BE- suggested that tn, amendment
'u-ht NOT 10 be- passed by the present Legislature uu
c>, IT, member, con Jou~y believe iu the principle
Il prohibition IL OJSht not 10 be passed merely Tor
1riu'~ sake in Obedience "A desire ~airh
e. possibility for it, defeat.
Tho Constitution contcmplltc> that a constitutional
amendment shall meet tlr honest aud deliberate iudg
ncut and approval of Two SEPARATE Legislatures ltOc
my further action hall De taken thereon. II Ia,
'ien been asserted in recent years that the passage
II amendment by the Lcgiaturc Is more a matter
II form than substance. and that the object thereof
simply 10 allow the QucstiO To be afterwan sub
nttCd to the people. Ia behalf ut this position = -
irgcd that the Legislature may. with prOpricy. adOpr
lch course TCs pccvc OF the fact that it, members
hrnl-clNcs neither sincerely favor the policy ~ /
prohibition nor believe thar the SAM !, desired by
he people OF the state.
II /, respectfully submitted that this is pcrV crtcd
md dan seruus conception OF public duty. and i'll
-gui,cd plea by which 10 cndcayOr % escape Official
responsibility. Merely because the action ot thu l
legislature Is not the final act which Nitazcs au /
L =