Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-14

TAIbspy Eveains Journal. ]


With the adoption Of the Australian bal
lot system By Michigan. following ciosei v
on similar scsion in Illineis, Is northern
s,ases have incorporated the popular elec
to.si reform idea into their laws.
All six New England stases,-Anne
New Hampshire, Vermont, massachusetts,
Rhode Island snd Coanecticuf,-ar undei
the pes d stem. All the eastern cenRAl
s,sses,-Nsw York. New Jersey, Delaware
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan. Illinois, and Wis
cousia,-srs subject 10 Il. Thus 1t may Be
ssid that the Australian idea OF electoral
reform hiss sriumphed in every northern
state east Of the Mississippi.
Moreover, in the section west OF tcs
Mississippi there are few exceptions. The
three Pacific slope ststes-Washington,
OREGON and California-have adopted the
reform The oely break in the line Of
Australian ballot states along the Canadlsn
border from Maine to Washington IL
thu narrow stretch occupied by the pal
h.ndl." of Idaho. Indeed. the latter ID
the only oce of the new states which has
Neglected 10 embody the reform IN rs
laws, Wyoming and Montana having done
90 while they were yet territories. and the
two Dakotss having done 90 during thu
present year. lows Is the one northern
state on the west bsnk Of the Mississippi.
which ~ yet has not passed a AustIslian
ballot isv, although her ueighbors to the
north and Minnesota and Nebrssks.
have done 90. Kansss, Colorado and
Nevsis are the Only other western staies,
shicb. with Idaho and lows. have Lot KEEP
ap with the procession. Even the little
territory Of Oklahoma, in the center OF ths
Indian territory, is conducting lie elections
under the Australian system.
Among the states, therefore, which 10
the pas! have been denominated northern,
As col trssted with the border and southern
belts, % of the 2s have adopted the Aus-
trxIisn system Of voting.
This group Of border states 10 also sub
lect to the Australian system. Mary lAno,
West Virginia. Kentucky and Missouri.
But in The South, where elections have
ieRenerated into mere form and farce,
the Australian ballot has met with little
success or even consideration. ArkAnsas
and Tennessee, in which, despite the heavy
Democratic msjorities, there are aggressive
and well-organjzed Republican MINOR
ties, are the only states subject to the new
electoral system. The great belt OF Allan
tic and Gulf states, extending from Viz
ginia to Texss and including, in addition to
these states, North Carolins. South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana. which contains over mil
lion colored voters and which in the past has
been the sest Of force and fraud ct the polls
has not In the instance Of single state
adopted the Australian system. This is the
chief source of concern to all who are
interested in the publication aud protec.
ton Of the ballot; for the election laws of
these states - 1t present constituted are
designed to perpetuste the existing political
control and the minority is practically with
out representation either at the polls or in
the election boards. Nothing could testify
more strongly to the demoraliz alton in pub
lie sentiment wrought by the suppression Of
the colored vote than the absence OF the
Australian ballot from the distinctly SOUTH
ern states.