The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-14
Yhnt An .t,,.llnn nnlIat Agnln.

That Australian Ballot Again.
Reports from Dover are that the
same Australian ballot bill introduced
into the Legislature two years ago,
but watch was defeated In the House,
has been introduced again at the
present Legislature and its passage
will be urged. The same objections
lie against the bill ut the present Bes-
sion that did last session, and unless
very much amended it ought to be de-
feated. 'histead OF being bill TO fla
eilitats honest voting and honest
counting, it is bill TO keep the Hitter
ate from voting ut all. The ballot is
too Intricate and requires too much
art In the folding OF it. failure to
fold 1t up In the same manner in which
il Is handed to the voter ia cause for
the Rejection of the ballot. The ballot
Is 20 be kept clean and clear of all
marks by which it may be known and
no new crease or indentation is to be
nlade.
Imagine a mechanic from shop
hunying up to the polls to vote. He
has but few minutes to spare; has no
time to 80 home, whether far or near,
to-wash, comb and dress. His hands
arc grimy and greasy from his honest
toll. He wants to vote, and who has a
better right to vote than tho honest
mechanic As he enters the booth he
Is handed folded ballot with a
printed inscription on the back of It.
He Is to unfold that ballot, that Is
probably eighteen inches long, with
the names Of the candidates OF all
plrtics upon it. He is to sean that
ballot from top to bottom, pick out
the names OF tho menhe wants to vote
for and he must Ihlko cross at the
right hand end of each name he votes
for. If he is left-handed and makes 4
cross at the wrong end Of the name
the ballot is rejected.
II he leaves black, greasy spot on
tho ballot 1t is rejected. II he fails to
fold 1t up as 1t was handed to him In
tho same creases, IL is rejected. This
Is requiring something from the work.
ing classes OF the people that is I'M
reasonable. IL the objections we have
referred To would confuse intelligent
men, what would become of the litter.
ate whites and blacks? They would
by the force of circumstances be en-
tirely dlsrianehlsed. Trae, we ar,
told that man who can not read very
well is permitted TO call upon per
son designated for that purpose Il
help him through, or to make certain
explanations, but as in many other
things 20 confused man they would
baexplanations that would not explain
The Republican party OF the State In.
been put upon the rack ami has beer
accused of not wanting honest cleo
lions in Delaware bscuuse this partl
euiar so-calied Australian ballot bill
WINS defeated In the House by Repub
lican votes. The Republican part,
will stand upon its record, and has n
apologies TO make for defeating III
bill.
The bill had harmless look, and |
hfh high-sDunding, honest intention
rather pretentious-but its real Pun
pose was to disfranchisc the colore
Republican vote. This was SO apparnn
that a proper title would have beer
''An act to defeat the Republica
party" But the Republican party
In favor OF ballot reform. In ever
State OF the Union Republicans hay
led the van for honest elections an
ballot reform. They opposed IS,
called Australian Ballot Reform bill
Delaware and one in Maryland, bccaa,
they bore the mark of the polite
trickster all through them. They wi
oppose no honest ballot reform bill.
By the way, what is wrong With Il
Myers system of voting now exhibit,
IN Dover? What more Is wanted to $
cure honest voting than that system
Why not make a short cut for a syste
that is easily understood by ali, n
that deiies dishonesty in voting an
dishonesty In counting? A grea-
hand and the liiy-whitc hand are ALL
in this voting process. The system
we'll worthy OF the closest scrutir
and attention Of our members of Il
Legislature, and It's substitution f
the intricate and cumbersome M
ehinery of the so-called Australii
system, before the Legislature. wen
be long step in the direction Of IN
and honest ballot reform.
Ii SENATOR WILLIAMS bill for CALI
Constitutional Convention provil
for a preliminary vote according
Article TX of the Constitution,
would lie safe this year to take Il
vote in the month Of May, Just as I
article itself suggu ats. The Ian
number OF voters who voted at
late State election, will still be gu;
fled to vote for or against Il conp,
ton in May and the feeling now
favor of u convention after the fall
oil three years ago Will insure a 5
HpinntlV lnrara .TIta