The record-union., 1891-01-11

and as many blanks are to be left after
each Office as there are persons to be elect
ed to it, and the blanks are to be num-
bered in order. The candidates names
are to be put in alphabetical order under
the Office titles.
We think it will be necessary to insert
in the bill line stating that opposite each
name shall appear the political designa-
ton. We believe also that it will be far
better to adopt the Indiana plan of print
ing the political tickets in separate col
umns with the party vignette at the head
of each, and blank for marking, that the
voter may vote straight ticket if he de-
sires by making single mark. Thus,
one column would show all Democratic
nominees, another all Republican, an
other all Independent, etc. There will
thus be removed the objection that voters
might be confused in picking out of
straight lists their partisan choices. 1t
will amount to this, as in Indiana, that
every voter will have before him on the
sheet the distinct party tickets more con-
veniently than now, when they are on
separate ballots.
The ballots are to be bound in stub
books of 100 ballots each, and 100 tickets
are to be furnished for every SO electors
in precinct. Any errors or omissions
may be corrected at any time by order of
the Superior Court. From the Clerk the
Election Board receives the ballots and
receipts for them. Two ballot clerks are
to be chosen for each precinct from the
two political parties casting the largest
number of votes at the preceding cleo
ton. Two ballot-boxes are provided,
one General" the other Municipal"
Booths are to be provided, in which the
voter may be screened from view, and
where he may enter and prepare his
ballot.
A guard-rail is to keep all persons, eX
cept those lawfully inside, six feet from
the boxes and the booths, but both boxes
and booths must be in plain view of the
public. There shall be at least one booth
for every SO electors. Every booth is to
be supplied with marking and writing
supplies.
The voter passes within the rail and
gives his name and address. A ballot
clerk loudly announces it, clerk finds
it on the register and audibly announces
it. A general and municipal ticket are
each torn from the stub and given him,
and the numbers thereof entered oppo-
site his name in the register. The ballot
clerks then indorse their names on the
ticket.
This Endorsement is, in our opinion,
unnecessary. 1t is sufficient for identifi-
cation that ballots are numbered. 1t is
possible, nay, easily so, for clerk to so
indorse his name as to identify thereafter
the vote of any elector. We presented
and demonstrated this objection to the
| committee two years ago, and convinced
it that not only is the handwriting OF
clerks upon the ballot unnecessary but
dangerous. A shrewd clerk can easily
identify by his signature the ballot of 80
out of 200 voters, and thus the secresy of
so ballots will be destroyed, and the boss
given an avenue through which to reach
and COW the voter.
On receiving his ballot the voter retires
to booth, marks his preferences with a
black lead pencil, folds his ballot, and re-
turning delivers it to the Inspector, who
announces the name of the voter and the
number of the ballot If the number
corresponds with that entered as taken
out, the word ''voted'' is written on the
register. The Inspector then tears off the
perforated margin bearing the ballot
| number and destroys it, and the ballot is
then cast. 1t will be seen that the secresy
is as fully conserved without as with the
indorsed names of the ballot clerks, hence
the Endorsement is unnecessary, and will
constitute point of assault upon the bill.
Let all such that may, be removed.
The voter must not exceed five minutes
in the booths. If he spoils ballot, he
can receive another to the number OF
three, the spoiled ballots being immedi-
ately cancelled. The ballot clerks must
account for unused ballots, and it will be
seen that with the stubs, the cast ballots,
and the spoiled ones, perfect account
can be made of each number, so that no
| fraudulent ballot can be counted.
| If voter cannot read or mark his bal
lot, he can have the aid of an election
officer, and certificate record of the fact
is made upon the ballot. The County
Clerk is to print sample ballots" on un-
official paper, to be given to every regis
tered voter who desires. Cards of in
struction are also to be prepared and fur
nished voters, and the Election Boards
are to post like cards at the polls and in
each booth. Names written on ballot
/ are to be counted whether marked [xl OF
not.
Severe penalties are provided for de-
facing certificates of nomination, or filing
false certificates, or disclosing the secret
of the water mark, or forging ballot, or
marking one so as to identify it, or falsely
swearing to disability to read or mark, or
for bribing or.offering to bribe, or for re-
| yealing how disabled voter voted, and
so on. Electioneering is forbidden within
one hundred feet of the polls, as also
showing ballot after marking it, or ask
ing at a polling place how, one voted.
Such, in pretty full detail, is the pro-
posed new law. With the two exceptions
noted, it is worthy of approval, and
should be made State statute. Print the
party tickets on the ballot as in Indiana,
omit the written Endorsements, and law
will be left simple, understandable, prac-
teal, and that will conserve the secrecy of
the ballot, break the backs of the bosses,
and as nearly eliminate fraud upon cleo
tions as is possible to be done, and give
us more nearly than ever before, the true
voice of the people at the polls.
USELESSNESS OF AIR-SHIPs.
Arthur Fl. Cummings, in the North
American Reuiew, takes the position that
| flying machines are useless, and even if
perfected can have little value. We con-
fess that we have long entertained the be-
lief that the great effort put forth to per-
| feet air-ships is positive waste of human