Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-26
NEW INFLUENCES AT WORK.
The Australian Ballot system and the Earn
ere Alliance In Ohio,

The Australian Ballot system and the Farm.
ers' Alliance In Ohio.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CoLuMBUs, ONO, June 26.-Two new ele-
ments will enter into the Ohio campaign this
year. which will keep the politicians guessing
as to their effect. These are the Australian
ballot law and the Farmers Alliance. For the
drst time Ohio will vote under the new Austr al
ian ballot law this fall. As adopted in this
state the pure Australian system is prescribed
IL will by no means be impossible for one who
cannot read, however, to vote the ticket Of his
choice, for the reason that the law permits
parties TO adopt emblems which will APP
pear Mt the head Of their respective tickets,
thus enabling those voters who cannot read to
select ticket by recognizing the party en-
blem. 1t will be risky business, however, for
such voters to undertake to 'scratch' a ticket
The only sure way open to them il to vote
straight
VOTERS AFRAID OF THE SYSTEM.
There is no use trying to disguise the fact
however, that the new system OF ballOting has
a terror for great many voters, who do not
clearly understand it and imagine II is a great
deal more complicated than it is. The STAR
correspondent has talked with chairmen of
committees of both parties and learned from
them that they fear that many will remain
away from the polls for fear of betraying their
ignorance OF the provisions OF the new law.
They fear this will operate so extensively as
to considerably reduce the total vote in the
state. or course this detection will include
the iliterate and less intelligent element Of the
voting population and neither party is ready to
admit that it will lose on this account any more
than the other.
As FOR THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
As for the Farmers Alliance, the part it viii
take in the campaign is yet undetermined. In
all the counties the farmers are bestirring
themselves and in many OF them farmers
tickets are already in the field. They will I'M
doubleday cut quite figure in the election of
members Of the legislature, and while the num-
Der OF farmers elected may not be large there
will be few members elected who do not pledge
themselves to stand by <he main features Of
the resolutions adopted in the state farmers
meeting here two months ago As to a state
ticket the farmers seem perfectly satisfied with
their treatment from the republicans in giving
them the nomination for lieutenant governor
In the person OF Col. A. l.. Harris OF Preble
county, a practical farmer. Should the demo-
Gratis ccncede them as much all thought of
nominating any state officers will no doubt be
abandoned.
REPUBLICANS HAVE NO WALK oyER.
In an interview Secretary Of State Dan. J.
Ryan urges the republicans to activity in the
coming campaign, saying that notwithstanding
the declarations Of some Of the enthusiastic
convention orators the party has 70 walk
over this year. His idea is that while the
nomination Of Mckinley for governor was per-
fectly proper and the logical action Of the
party, II prevents the party from taking
advantage OF the local dissensions Of the demo-
Gratis, as they could do were the candidate for
governor not q national character.
"As II is" says Secretary Ryan. I'VE will not
have simply Campbell or Neal to fght but the
solidly arrayed nnti-high tariff party, who will
forget Ia their zeal the local dessensions and
Join hands on the tariff question
The republican organization is in excellent
condition In this state. In fact, the work has
not been allowed to cease since the election of
last fall.
I'VE could begin the campaign today" says
Secretary Alberry, land not have one thing Of
the usual preliminary work Of organization to
do. All our county organizations have been
retained and kept in working order"
OF course this means great deal, especially
since Chairman Holm Of last year is also to be
chairman of the executive committee this year.
and possibly Secretary Alberry will be induced
to accept the secretaryship again.