Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-27
How Ballot Reform has Spread.
Boston journal.


There has been nothing more surpyi,iuQ
in our recent political hi.tory than the
rap.dity with which the cause of ballot
reform has extended its col quests, until i!
has been incorporated, in some form, in
the election laws of nes,ly all the North.
ern and several of ,he Southern Stater.
These results have been accomplished in
three years. Prior to 1888 the only exper-
iment in the Australian system of balloling
which bad been made was in Kentucky, in
the municipal elections at Louisville.
An EFFORT was made, we believe,
in 1887, TO secure the enactment Of 8
ballot reform law in Michigan, The bill
accomplishing this change was passed By
one b,anch of the Legislature, but failed
in the other. Michigan thus lost The dis
tinction OF being the first state in the U1io1
20 adopt the reform In an application to the
entire State. this honor being won by Mas.
sachusetts the rext year. A reform bill
was passed in the New York Legislature
before the Massachusetts law was en-.
scted, but the interposi;ion Of Governor
Hill prevented 1t from becoming
law, ard it was not until 1890 that,
upon the third trial, after many
changes and compromises, a bill was passed
which received his sigosture. Ths next
year, 1889, witnessed the adoption of secre,
ballot laws, modelled after the Australian
system, and come of them copying the sali-
emit features OF our own law, in Indians,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana. Rhode H.
land, Tennessee. Wisconsin, Michga AID
Connecsicut, The next year, 1890, was an
of year in legislation, comps.snvely few
legislatures being in session, but New Y ork,
Mary land, New jersey and Vermont were
added to the list Of ballot reform states by
Legislative enactment, and Mississippi by
the sction of the Constitutional Conven-
ton. The pre- sant year has been the most
fruitful OF results. Maine and New Hsmp-
shire have enacted excellent ballot reform
laws, thus making New England solid 10
the cause, although the Come cticut ststute
is 30 defective that it is with some hesitation
that we include it in the list Besides these
states, Arkansas, Nebraska, North and
South Dakota, Oregon, Colorado, Washing .
ton, West Viz ginis, Delaware, Ohio, Penn.
sylvania aud illinois have Joined the ranks
Of ballot reform states.
Thirty sta.es, therefore, now have the
Australian system in some form, and even
where the statutes ensc.ed are conspicuous
iy defective. IS in New Jersey, Mary land
and New York, in nearly every instance
they represent SO decided An advance upou
method, previously prevailing that the
cause OF reform has been materially pro-
moted BY their adoption. This is remark
able growth for a system which was { great
an innovation as this, and which, besides
having to encounter the objections na,u-
rally raised BY conservatism, was regarded
with distrust, if not sntipsthy, bya large
proportion OF professional politicians in
both the great parties. The reform has
made its way BY the iosiste nee of the pop-
ulsr demand, and no subsidiary cause has
contributed more to its signal successes
than the excellence Of the Massachusetts
law, and the smoothness, efficiency, in,elli
gence and impartislity with which Is was
put in force.