The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-09
MONDAY NOVEMBER o, 1891.


The Australian Ballot.
From all the States where the Aus
trallan system of voting was practiced |
at the late elections come favorable
comment from all parties. 1t seems |
to have done tho Republican party no
harm in Ohio nor the Democratic party
no harm in New York. If fairly oper-
ated II alone can neither increase nor
decrease the vote of any party, though
for the want OF an excuse for defeat
political parties may attribute their
want of success to the secret ballot.
II the Australian ballot did no other
good than to secure the quiet and
good order that prevailed around poll
ing places at the late election where it
was in operation, it will have sub
served a most commendable purpose.
We had the privilege ourselves of OBJ
serving the working OF the system on
election day having token run down
to Baltimore expressly for that pur.
pose.
We visited no less than three cleo
ticn precincts on that day, some Of
them in parts of the city noted for
great disorder and ballot box stufflDg
under the old system. Through the
kindness Of the officers we were per
mitted to go inside and see and exam
Inc the minute workings of the whole
machinery. We were struck with
wonder and delight with the ease and
quiet with which citizens were per-
mittad to come in and vote and depart.
There was not the least friction any
where nor was there tho least excite
ment about the polls. In looking
about for polling places we had din.
Guilty in finding them. In one instance
we went entirely past u polling place
without knowing an election was In
progress inside and We had to retrace
our steps. Voters come and 20 with
the same elaboration that they would
step into business Office and order a
ton of coal or a barrel OF flour. The
whole thing was business operation,
and the voting and recording OF the
votes was performed in cuisines like
manner. SO much for the order that
prevailed around and inside the polls
But does the Australian ballot sys.
tenn promote absolute honesty or is
the vote cast an absolute honest onei
We cannot speak so assuredly in re-
gard to that. We are inclined to think
that tho honesty of the vote cast de
Ponds upon the honesty OF the cleo
ton officers and of the registration
officers, as the honesty of al! othe
elections depend.
Though no dishonesty could be de
teoted in the polling rooms by an out
slider and a stranger we could no
see wherein the Australian ballot coull
be defeated in its honest purposes
The weakness lies in the registration
of voters. The election officers hayi
but to receive and record the vot
registered, and the registration officer
who made tho registration sit at Ia
BILE In the room right before til
judges.
While no vote Is received not regis
tered, who knows whether tho regis
tration made ut different times week
before is honest? What WITS to hinde
padded registration? Parties frol
Washington, Wilmington or anvwher
else could domiuils In baltimore o
registration day. and on election da
come again to Baltimore aud vote {
somebody else he sent TO persouat
them, There Is nothing To hinder tn,
from being done and we believe il Wa
done to a very great extent in Enl,
more last Tuesday, and this frau
could not 10 detected by tbs kind {
Australian hnI!oL used In Baltimore.
The conposition OF tl,e electio
boards In baltimore Ii entirely mari
san. Tho election commissioner
stood two Democrats and one Renul
l;cau. md tlnv had tIa annuint ma,
= OF all election oiiicers. Not being T.
stricted any farther than to give II
nority representation on the boar,
they were careful never to give Ii
Republicans muiurity even In stroI
Republican districts, and t!.is show