The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-02-21
BALLOT REFORM.
Ballot Reform !. Right and That IL WHY u
should he Adopted"

ltAA<iiMffIF uWs ItO. IN ne w ueU~
ing'on correspondent OF The Baltimore
Sun had rn extended interview with ex-
President Cleveland III New York. chief
|iy on The question OF ballot reform,
which Is aeiss,ing the public mind III all
parts 81 the country. and especially a.
this time. in Maryland. Al The opening
~ The conversations Mr.. Cleveland said
that when he went 10 Boston with The
late Henry Grady. he hni prepared with
The utmost care the sprerh which he de-
iiyered. IL II he enhravored 10 give his
views franklv aud fully upon the mat
tiers which he regarded as ~ public in
terest. and hr thought that would relieve
him from the necessity ~ any further
expressions for = long time 10 come.
But he WAS disappointed ~ this. On
} the question OF Maryland politics being
) brought M. the cx-President thought
the Democratic lsarty Of Maryland was a
splendid organization. and hoped what
ever di-~ensions existed would be speedi-
IS. bafmoniou-ly and permanently set-
tied. II being suggested 10 him that
some ~ The >oufhern Democratic leaders
al Washington were fearful that adop-
ton ~ The Australian system wonid sni-
peril Democratic supremacy, seemed sur
lri-ed. A. he did not see why there
should be any fear on that score.
but" said he, II have never looked
upon this question from that point Of
view. have never debated il my nwn
mind whether the removal Of irickerv
from the voter would injure or benefit
the Democrats. Ballot reform Is right.
and thai Is why ! think II should be-
sdopted' lie said Governor -Abbe't, Of
New Jersey. and Governor Campbell, ot
Ohio. were two ot ihe most asiulc poll
ticisus il the country. aud no Que could
be more pronounced IN favor of The
lprinc,ple than each os them. Referring
10 the late municipal election IN Boston.
. hich had frequently been held up ~ =
warning 20 Democratic advocates Of the
Australian system. lie said II was folly
70 a-cribe the Republican victory % The
effects Of the new voting law. The law
had nothing whatever % do with IL, and
no better proof could be asked Of the
value and justice Of the measure than
the sars that all the leading Massachu'
lsetts Democrats were entirely satisfied
with its operations. As 10 the argument
that the uneducated voter would be EN-
= ~ibarrassed aud in many instances DE-
prived Of his privilege, Mr.. CLEVELAND
could not see that there was ything u
lii. Nothing could be easier than III
i.doptjou ~ some sign or device sppar
lent so the most ignorant indicating TN
polificsl complexion ~ the candidate
. "a be voted Tor. lie thought The hes
nl.u wonld he 10 have lists of all candi
ld~tes printed on onr ticket, the signs y
TN. alnpfed standing at the top ~ eac'
4. l,i-f. rnd indicating 10 which party th'
candidates belonged. The voter coul'
I,h.n by one mark Indicate his intention
l,o vote fnr All the candidates "f his party
lie did not approve of the proposition
lr.auiring the voter 20 make marx op
lpo.jte each candidate Of his party. Thi
Swas cumbersome and luxurious ant
lwouid result tdisaivsntageouslvs 80 far
lbosh The educated and uneducsted vote
was concerned. Many business and pro
fes.iou.l men would moi take the ironbl
us l, make cross or mark opposite ever
name. This provision would also Civ
the voter who was not able 10 resh ~
: ticket aIi The protection ann coms'ne'a
tion TO which he was entitled. y wou''
mot prevent the independent vo.er IRON
III <crsiching any individual csndidate 90
Iiec,jonable to him. The vital princ'pi
lof ballot reform he regarded ~ iodge'
liz The sofiicial" ballot. To permit ~ un
nd official ballot would leave the door =
- vide open as ever to bribery and corrup
= ltion. An .ofIic;al" ballot only woui'
lsweep away 10 great extent, u not En-
!. l,jrelv. ali excuse for campaign iunds
lshss fruitful source Of bribery and cor
lruptiou. fcr IL the State paid sll the ex
penses or the elections, there would o
l.ii,slc piea 10 lew assessments upon can
ld;dstes and contributions from lnteres
lsed outsiders. The necessity Tor oa'lo
Ireform was most urgent. and inhians,
state most capable Of judging and appre
q c;atinv The eviIs OF the present stua.ion
: w.s rine for the movement in that direc
E,ion. In the last Presidential campe'g'
mia v;rus OF corruption Of the voter haf
Inassed largely into the rural districts Q
New York. aud thousands OF voters wh'
never had before cast any but 81 hones
lheIlot had yielded 10 temptation sn'
for tWo dollar bills voted against .ne'
lowu convictions. II not arrested Q.
Ileoislation Il would be much worse
The next general election. The area 9
hribery And corruption would increase
lshc takers OF bribes would dono'e y
numbers and In price. and the corruption
:. tmnds would inevitably work 70 create
ny and greater proportions. Reducing "a
4. opportunities for bribery q 'ss .,,s - toI !;
sible 20 : minimum wou,u 'es"r ="
drawing party lines closer tnan esss s', u
!. fore, for the general voter. WIN no s.np
II taticn to swerve him. wonlu na."s',s y
= cast his ballot Tor the party % VIZ" :
D was allied. however loosely nc eAp.s:
sed his perfect confidence tnA' pS".' 1'
sentiment was running strongly - .asu
/. or ballot reform, and ne oei'eveu
= would ere long be sufficiently power'u
!. 10 compel respect and obedience 'ro'
reluctant legislators.
III. - s.t. ...t N;nrannce mar