The morning call., 1890-10-07
BALLOT REFORM.
Enthusiastic Meeting in Favor OF the
Australian system.

Enthusiastic Meeting in Favor of the
Australian system.
a well-attended meeting of the Ballot Re
form League was held last night at Metro
politan Hall under the auspices of the Fed
Grated Trades and Single Tax Society. The
proceedings We're opened by II. ID. Wagner,
who raped the meeting to order, and in
troduced Albert Thurman, President of the
Federated Trades, as Chairman. Mr.. Fuhr-
man, after explaining the objects of the
meeting, traced back the history Of the
movement to its inception, three years ago,
and Its growth in popularity since. He
claimed that the agitation had borne good
fruit and that the league was now almost
on the eve OF accomplishing its purpose. He
then introduced Hon. James g. Mcguire,
whom he termed the father of ballot reform
Iii san Francisco.
On coming forward the well-known eX-
Judge was received with great heartueSS.
lie claimed that the greatest issue in the
campaign is the adoption OF the Australian
ballot system, and in condemning the present
method was careful to point out by COM
parsons wherein the advantages lie with
the system adopted By the commonwealth of
Massachusetts Since his first vote many
years ago, the speaker said he had watched
the methods OF machine politics, and III cou-
Sequence Of what lie observed he
became q constitutional kicker. He kicked
against the Brady and ManniX faction, and
helped to drive them out OF power only to
discover that their successors were as bent
upon evil deeds a they were Consequently,
he was forced to the conclusion that even If the
machine was Wrested al this late day cut OF
its present hands ii would fall Immediately
into the possession OF another lust as vicious
gang. Mere changes Of men would effect no
good result, for the evil lay deeper and
could only be cured by the adoption OF some
such radical measure as that offered by the
Australian ballot system.
-: The speaker referred to the fact that now
it. was possible to hand a ballot to voter
outside the l00-yard limit and to watch him
so closely that he would be detected in the
act il he tried to vote any other than the
ballot given him. Consequently, it is an
easy thing for an employer to coerce an
e1Hpl0ye at the polls, and for the briber to
make sure of the delivery Of his so lds. On
the other hand, by the Australian plan, alb
SDlutely secrecy is secured, so that lntIml-
dalton cannot be practiced nor can the
bTlbeT effect his purposes, seeing that he has
no means Of aScertaiuing how the bribe-taker
has voted beyond that WOrthy's mere state
inent, which he would be most unlikely to
take tor granted.
He did not claim that the plan he advo-
Gated was itself a perfect one, but after
long period Of practical usefulness in
= Australia il had been surrounded with so
:, many safeguards for the protection of the
popular will that it is as nearly perfect as
human ingenuity can make it. OF course it
will not prevent perjury nor the voting Of
other mems names, but il will make such
crimes so hazardous that the escape of the
criminal will be well-nigh impossible.
Letters from the Governor of Massachu-
setts and the Mayors of the leading cities
in that State approving the new ballot law
now IN force there were read to the meeting,
after which the system was exemplifed upon
tile stage by means of an imprOysed voting
booth. While voting was going on for this
purpose Judge Mcguire was engaged in an
sMeIlng queries put by parties among the
audience, one of whom declared the system
was failure in Butte, Mont, because voters
pretended their inability TO read or write,
and the officers allowed to make the ballots
OUT for them were really engaged in buying
the votes which they were thus enabled to
see deposited in the ballot-box. Upon this
point the speaker said he favored the ap-
puintment Of officers to assist the blind aud
the il.iLeraie, who should be taken from
eafh Of the political parties interested. or
that provision should be made allowing such
persons to bring in friends of their own
choosing to perform the service for them.
:, After tile method had been thoroughly ex-
planned Thomas V. Gator, candidate for
Congress from the Fourth District on the
:. Regular" Democratic ticket, addressed the
meeting in support of the movement, and
for his vigorous English received the
earnest applause of his audience He was
cOmDliinented with three hearty cheers at
the close of his remarks, after which the
meeting was declared adjourned