Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-22

At the recent farmers dinner given by
The Rey.J. \. Willis ut his Milford farm,
Thomas -. Coursey OF SprinR Mills one OF
the committee on the subject appointed by
the Vent county Farmers Institute, read
sn interesting paper on ballot reform. MIR.
Coursey alao exhibited and explained
model, Invented by him, OF screen to BIS
erected AT each polling place In the State.
should there ha law passed by the next
Legislature LOOKING towards secret ballot
ut Geti1ns. The screen Ia designed to be
from u 10 Is feet long In front OF the poll
ing window, leaving an avenue about three
feet wide, on more II the sidewalk Is wide
enough to admit OF 1t. There will also be
an avenue at right angles at each end, SIX
feet or so in length and three feet wide, thu
entrance being at one end md the exit at
tho other.
The entrance should be guarded by two
officers, one chosen from each party, whose
duty should be 10 prevent more than one
person entering the enclosure at the same
time; tho voter after leaving his ballot with
the Inspector, will pass out mt the other
end OF the screen. By this means az abso,
lutoly secret ballot may be obtained, and
the designer believes that this plan, in
many respects, 4 superior to the Australian
ballot. or any other ballot law yet made
public Especially for this state.) 1t would
bs lass complicated, much cheaper and the
Proceed much more expeditlously, and
certainly with more secrecy for the voter
who caGnot read or write, as he could by
this plan hava his ticket prepared at his
leisure by come friend In whom he has con-
fldencs. With the Australian law Mr.
CourSev says, I'VE can see no secrecy OF
security from fraud for the illitarate voter
who is at the mercy OF a stranger who may
fir his ticket just as he wants Il or he may
fix II otherwise and cause him to vote fol
thoSe he did not intend to. Il Is not likely
that any plan eau be- devised that will en-
tirely suppress bribery, but II the above
plan is carried out vita uniform ballot
and secret voting, the buying OF votes
would he greatly reduced IN numbers. Il
ever elitninHted from politics man with /
moderate fortune could afford to ba can
dldate"
Bribery. Mr.. Coprsey holds, Is a gam,
thlttwo cEr play ut; each party raises al
th9 money possible and seends all It car
get, and this result would perhaps be nbou
the same II neither spent dollar Vote
buying iG evil and only evil. and no matte
which party may bs benefited by 1t, 1t 4
Immoral in IFS tendencies, corruptnR In 1t
Influence and scandal TO our civilization
And that is not MI, II dcbaVs some of gu
best citizens from office because they hnv
not the provldentiel barrel.
hav3 been advocating q uniform Rnt
secret ballo for over 80 years; some ma
th,nk, perhaps, that any opposition I
bribery was from u selilsh and perniciou
sprit. to evOid furnishing funds for tn
purpose, bu, they will hardly accuse me G
seeking office at this time. II were, an
was on the ttcEet to-day, would eoone
sutfer defeat than furnish money 10 u col
rnptiou fund not that | am or claim to b
bstter than other men--all men do not loa
OF the question as l do. There may i
many better msn who do not hesitate
furnish money to corruption fund, O.
perhppa, buy votes directly, relieving the
congeioncs with the argument that Ii
other party buy and they must or go unds
Both parties claim to be tired OF the ev
ind wish Its suppression, but neither al
willing to abandon Il least they get lef
Now hare Il AN opportunity; let both parti'
agree TO abanhon 1t and each set watc
on the other and prosecute all violators
the law Without mercy until 1t is entire
efalleated from politics.