Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-10-29
REPUBLICAN TRUTHS.
Ballot Reform In New York.

As we have already said. there is no
more important question Involved in
the New York election than that Of
ballot reform. Itisa measure for which
the intelligent public mind every
where has shown itself to be ready,
and nothing shows more plainly the
essentially sound political condition
OF the country than the rapidity with
which the value OF this reform has
been perceiyed and the promptness
with which il has been adopted. New
York was not the first State to move,
and the effort in this State has been
INSTRUCTED throughout by Governor
Hill. The bill was three times vetoed
by the Governor, and was finally
signed by him only after 1t had been
much weakened. But Mr.. Fassett in
one Of his speeches, says that that fault
shall be remCdicd if he and his friends
get tho chance. The two conventions
have pronounced upon the subject
and last week we quoted both declar-
atiOns. 1t is the misfortune OF the
Democratic party In New York that 1t
Is not instinctiyely a party OF reform
and progress, and the friends OF large
and positive measures OF reform would
hardly count first upon the support of
Democratic sentiment In the State.
The weakening OF the bill was mainly
due TO Governor HIlrs "paster. ="
One chief object in the bill Is to secure
entire secrecy to the voter, so that his
selection OF a ticket may be complete
ly projected from observation. This
prevents bribery by making IL lmpos-
sible 20 know JUS; how the voter votes.
Under the old system the ticket which
the voter was paid for voting was
kept in view OF the boss until it was
dropped in the box, and the boss knew
by observation that the goods he had
paid for were delivered. To prevent
this was the vital beet OF the reform
bill, and this the Governor would not
tolerate. because it completely bafiled
the boss. The Governor therefore de-
clsred that the provision DISTINGUISHED
the il.tterats vO'eT, and ne made the
pssIer the condition of his approval.
The psster is n complete ticket which
the boss furnishes TO the voter; al
though be cannot &C uaIly see that
the ignorant voter uses il, vet it Is so
much easier for him to use it than to
make a selection from a ticket that he
cannot read that the Governor. in the
interest Of bosses and bribery. was
satisfied to sign the bill. The friends
OF an honest ballot reform now pro.
pose to substitute for the uaster and
the other tickets, one large ticket, on
which all the names OF candidates are
to be printed, and their party charac.
ter will be indicated by some device.
as the flag Or the eagle. so that the
most ilLitcrate man, upon looking at
the paper, will SEQ the names for
which he wishes to make his mark.
For this amendment OF the blanket
ballot the Republicans distinctly de-
clare, and make it ono Of the points
OF their canvass. This declaration is
short and unmistak able, like the old
Republican demand FOR no slavery in
free territory, or free soil, free speech,
free men. The Democrats founder in
long and confused statement de.
manding reform, but no limitation OF
manhood suffrage, and claiming the
credit of the existing law. But they
make no allusiOn to the amendment to
strengthen and perfect the law. and
should they carry the Legislature
there is no reason whatever 10 sup
pose that thoy would support it. On
the other hand there is no reason to
doubt that Republican Legislature
would pass the amendment and com
plete the great reform, -Harper's
Weekly Qnd.)