The record-union., 1891-01-25
FEEBLE ASSAULTS UPON THE RE-
FORM BALLOT SYSTEMS.

HoA-h D<ALLo1 S1S4ENlSs
The San Francisco Chronicle of Wednes-
day admits that the most of the criticisms
by the REcoRD-UNIoN upon Judge Dib-
ble's bill for ballot reform are well taken.
But it insists that they apply with equal
force to all ballot reform propositions.
For instance, the REcoRD-UNIoN held
that under the Dibble bill the poor man
cannot without cost contest for office, ir-
respective of the vote he may cast, but
under the Federated Trades bill he can,
if he has fair prior Endorsement. "What,"
asks the Chronicle, sis to prevent him
from running for Office under the present
election SYSTEM" Simply this, the
packed convention in the first place, and
in the second the enormous cost if he
completes even half-heartedly with the
ticket stations, ticket-peddlers and other
ticket devices tolerated under the law as
it is, and prohibited under the reform
system.
The Chronicle cites the case of O'Donnell
running independently for Mayor in San
Francisco in November last. and, though
he had no ticket, he received 1900 votes.
Indeed! O'Donnell is rich man; he
spent money freely in the campaign to
advance his candidacy. If it is true that
he had no ticket, it gives more point to
the position we take. Under the reform
ballot system O'Donnell, if Endorsed by a
given number of electors,a small per-
centage, would have been entitled to have
his name printed upon the official ballot,
cheek by jowl with those of the other
candidates-poor or rich, this would have
been his right without farthing of cost
to his purse.
The REcoRD-UNIoN asserts that it is
simpler to have all the tickets printed in
parallel columns on one official ballot,
as is done in Indiana under the reform
system, than to confuse the voter with
half a dozen or more separately printed
tickets as under the double bill, which
we must take into the booth, and then
upon one of them make up, by scratch
ing or writing, his ballot, and return all,
the chosen and the rejected to the Elec-
ton Board. The Chronicle replies:
How much simpler twill be for the voter to
get all the tickets the night before election,
as he may readily do with very little trouble,
take them home, prepare his ticket at his
leisure, and give the unused ones to the
children to cipher or draw pictures on. The
present system, as in practical operation, is
simplicity itself Why, then. try to cumber it
up in any way?
1t would not be so simple or child
like as is the comprehension of our con-
temporary. Under the Federated Trades
days prior to the election, duplicate
supplied to each voter who desires it,
and the official ballot posted and con-
spicuously displayed at the polls. No
voter who is not idiotic or drunk, can
possibly go astray, if he can read, of ex-
act knowledge of what the official ballot
contains ,ceek or more in Advance of the
election, which we submit is very much
better than ''the night before"
Moreover, the voter under the reform
system will have the pleasing assurance
that the official ballot he finds in print in
public journals or that given to him by
the officials many days prior to election,
and that is posted at the polls, is genuine.
The tickets issued by political and inter-
ested parties .'the night BEFORE" are often
found to materially differ from those dis
tributed at the polls the day of the cleo
ton. Besides, in rural districts the voters
do not and cannot receive their ballots
''the night BEFORE" and for obvious
reasons. Under the present system such
prior distribution of tickets is at the cost
of candidates, which is another handicap
upon the poor man.
But the Chronicle objects to the cost OF
officially printing ballots. giving prior
notice of their contents, furnishing clerks
and voters with cards of instruction, etc.
No cost to the State can measure the
virtue of clean election, untampered
with ballot boxes, certain and honest
counts, and the free exercise of the will
of the elector. For these underlie the
whole scheme of free government and
the preservation of our liberties. But in
fact, all the cost of political advertising,
posting, printing, etc., and which far ex-
ceeds any possible charges for official
ballot printing and advertising, is paid
by the people. Let no one deceive him.
self with any idea of the purse-generosity
ofpoliticians. Men do not contest for office
and expend the large sums required by
the present system for their health. The