The record-union., 1891-10-24
COST UNDER THE NEW ELEC-
TION LAW.


for only upon the hypothesis of belief
either that it is to abridge the rights of
some citizens and work hardship, or that
1T Is to be excessively costly-more ex-
pensive indeed than beneficial.
On the contrary, the law is for the ex-
press purpose of securing citizens in the
exercise of rights which have heretofore
been infringed. There is not in it, or
about it, a line or word that does not
stand abreast with the essential principle
OF our freedonl-that is, secrecy and in
volatility of the ballot, that the primal
act in self-governing may be performed
without interference, intimidation or the
knowledge of anyone except the SOW
ereign voter.
They had an election a few days ago
under the same law-the Indiana statute
being almost identical with ours-in In
dianapolis. The Republican party suf-
fered defeat at that election. Yet the
Journal, the leading Republican paper of
that capital city, while angry over the
voters decision, has this to say about the
new ballot law under which it's party
suffered a severe reverse:
''The law gives. universal satisfaction to
all who desire quiet, orderly, and digni-
fed elections. It is vast Improvement
in many ways over the old system, and
adds largely to the dignity of elections.
No doubt it can be improved in some OF
its details, but its main features are ad-
mirable and its results excellent. Some
of the worst features of elections under
the old system are entirely done away
with. The disorderly crowds around the
polls, the noisy peddling Of tickets, the
offensive electioneering and solicitation
of votes near the polls, the pulling and
hauling of doubtful voters, the prying
into peoples ballots and trying to see
how they vote, are all done away with
Perhaps the best feature of the new sys-
tenn is the absolute secresy of the ballot
Every person feels now as he approaches
the polls that he is exercising a valued
right in a dignifed way; and when be
prepares and folds his ballot he feels thai
he has not been subject to any meddle
some or prying dictation. The secresy
of the ballot is a great safeguard to it;
purity and independence"
But the cost is suggested as a reason
for the regret expressed. Since it is es
sential that the new law should go tc
trial without the handicap of false con
ceptions, it is well to show the tallacy OF
the idea that the operation of the new
law viii be more expensive than was the
enforcement Of the old. It might, how.
ever, be freely admitted that the presen
law viii cost the people more in opera
ton, since the benefits are so amply com
pensating. 1t might well be said that i
is an insult to patriotism to measure the
cost of preserving our liberties, which
are dependent upon the purity and Sc.
cresy of the ballot. However, to cleal
the atmosphere, which the enemies o
the new law prefer shall be obscured by
doubts, let US cast up the cost account OF
both sides and ascertain the truth-tha
the new law is the cheapest to operate by
very large margin.
Under the old system someone, sup
posedly the candidates, actually the whole
people, who support the officials and the
politicians, had to pay the cost o
printing as many sets of tickets as there
were parties in the field. The number o
each Of these sets of tickets exceeded
about four or five times the actual mum
Der cast at the polls; thus if three partie
were in the field twelve times as man,
ballots were printed as used.
Someone had to pay distributor
roundly to roll, bind and place a host O
these tickets in every house in the cit,
the night prior to the election. Someon
had to pay small army of ticket ped
dlers on election day. There was alway
left over enough tickets to furnish sta
tionery on many a desk from one electiol
day the year round TO another. Indee
there have been cases where enterprisin
business houses have secured these sur
plus tickets and had them cut and mad
into thousands of desk pads for desk us
and presented them TO their customers a
means of cheap advertising.
Under the new system all ballots use
or cast are printed on one sheet in jus
surplus quantity enough to supply regis
tered votes and allow for reasonabl
number of spoiled ballots. In addition
sample ballots, on cheap paper, al
printed equal in number to the voter
registered in the precinct.
Now, it needs not a mathematical d,
monstration to convince anyone that IL
cost of the ballot printing and bindin
under the new system must be infinitel
less than under the old. 1t is not take
upon candidates and by them charge
back upon the people in ways ofte
vicious, but it is borne equally by q
the people, from the peoples treasury,
should be all such burdens of Cover