, 1891-12-15
THE FREE BALLOT.
A Surprising Article in the
Daily Oregonian
Which an Olympia Voter Picks to
Pteces-The Reason why the
Australian system is
the Best.
Editor Tribune.

next year under the Australian ballot law.
40 Is troublesome system, the machinery
| Is cumbersome, the cost of holding cleo
tlons will be much increased, the polls
| will be obstfucted voting win be de-
| layed, busy men will not find time to wait
and the whole system will be nuisance
! The professional politicians and strikers
/ who have time and whose business it is to
take the trouble to ''Work" elections, will
have more opportunities and more influ-
ence than ever, since other persons will be
50 delayed and hindered that they will
leave the polls in impatience and disgust
Again, Just and proper influence viii be
defeated, since the citizen whose character
entities his opinions to weight and consid-
Grafton, can no longer show an elector
before going to the polls what ticket, in
his opinion, ought to be voted and offer
hlm one for the purpose. Thousands
go to the polls who do not know how
to vote without being told, and the men
who are best qualified to inform or in
Huence them are cut off from the opportu-
nifty. On the other hand the professional
workers, vote-buyers and all who have per-
sonal or other special interests to take care
OF Will IN some way get at the voters and
coach them when others will not. 1t is a
law that obstructs and defeats legitimate
influence at the polls, disgusts and drives
away large class of the best voters who
Will not submit to "monkeying' and de-
lay, and furnishes the class who make a
profession of election work with better op-
portunites than ever The Australian
ballot law is merely scheme of idealogists
and Missionaries, and it may safely be pre-
dicted that after its first general trial in
Oregon there will besa general demand for
its repeal.
The above article appears in the Sunday
Oregonian December 10, 1891. 1t is with
the greatest surprise that 7 see a Republi-
can journal of good repute take the same
old wornout arguments employed by
Governor David B. Hill of New York, and
his mouthpiece 'FThe Sum-" in their fight
against an honest and secret ballot on be-
half of one of the most corrupt Of political
machines of the day, Tammany Hall.
Every good citizen admits that it is com
fort to go to the polls now There is no
pulling, no hauling, everything quiet,
orderly, and above all, il is secret. Having
acted as inspector or judge Of election at
every election held in this city since the
above new law went into effect and never
having taken any more interest in elections
than what is the duty Of every good citi-
zen, and having closely observed its oper-
alton in twenty or more states which has
adopted the system since it was first ad-
vocated about ten years ago, 7 believe I can
speak with some knowledge Of its good
results.
Wherever a political machine OF boss
controls the election of state or sub
division Of state, they are always the first
to cry, "stop thief" and plead for the
political freedom of the dear people; par
ticularly the iliterate ones. / have heard
but few men in this vicinity object to the
secret ballot; in fact only two. One of
them was member Of the Legislature that
passed the bill. After his first trial he
summed up his experience to me in these
words: "D-n the Australian ballotp
But you must excuse him; it broke his
slate. VulgarIy expressed, "He was not
in it," The other gentleman has succeeded
himself in office the last twenty years or
more. After the first rattle out Of the box
(Australian ballot box) his verdict is 81
don like the Kangaroo baIlotp We hear
a few saying: eve cannot understand the
instructions" They are very simple; put
q cross \ after the name you wish to vote
Tor. If had boy IL years old that did
not know enough to obey instructions so
simple, | should have small hopes for his
future
! will now try to examine the Oregon
ianiali's charges seriatum. First that pa
per says: 1T is q troublesome system
with cumbersome machinery"
will admit that it does trouble some
people considerable. for instance, ward
bosses accustomed to carry the vote of
their ward in their vest pocket; but the
elector or election officers, never; it is
pleasant change for them, Instructions
are placed in the booth before each voter;
if the voter from physical or educational
disability is unable to read, he can select
one or two Of the judges TO assist him. Its
machinery is eqally simple.
1t is only one writing desk with neces-
sary sides to screen him from observation
for every SO voters registered In our pre-
cinct, Second ward, we had a registered
vote of about 3C9, also six booths or COM
partments. AT no time were more than
four occupied at one time, and that
only during the rush between II and
O'Clock and 5 and pm. We can receive
and record one vote per minute, which is
| fully as fast as the old system, where the
voter often had to crush and squeeze him
self in among ticket peddlers and other So
called workers before he was able to ap-
proach the ballot box.
| Second, the 0regonian says: "The cost
1 of election will be much increased
| At first sight it may so appear because
the people pay for printing ballots directly,
| whereas under the Old system the success
full candidate advanced the money, know
| ing that if he got good chance he would
| pay himself back with interest. Look at
political assessments levied on candidates
amounting to as much as one years salary
out of two or three years term-some-
times even more. / never will believe it
comes out of their pockets if they are sue
cessful. A man Of small means can get his
name on the Australian system ticket;
under the old system never; he could not
afford the expense.
Thirdly, the Oregonian says "The polls
| will be obstrueted and voting delayed'
| An officer is present to see that only
voters enough to fill booths are admitted.
! When one retires he admits another. There
can be no obstruction. Experience has
shown that one booth to every fifty voters
is sufficient. Nobody is allowed to remain
after depositing his ballot. lie must retire
at least fifty feet from the polling place.
There can be no delay, no obstruction.
"Fourthly-"The whole system is nui-
sance."
The whole is not only nuisance, but it
is sure death to machines, bosses and
strikers, and the best thing for the voter
and election officer. Each can perform bis
work in peace.
Fifthly-Just and proper influence will
| he defeated, since the citizen whose char
acteT entities his opinion to weight and
/ consideration can no longer show an cleo
tor before going to the polls what ticket in
his opinion ought to be voted, and offer
him one for that purpose
i The f'just and proper influence can be
exercised as well and better fifty feet from
the polls than right before the ballot box
There is no man whose character entities
him, in my humble opinion, to tell me
what ticket !, in his opinion, ought tc