The record-union., 1891-06-23


a suggestion contained in your recent edito-
rial on the subject of ballot reform strikes me
as one of value and one that should be acted
upon by friends of the new law without delay.
refer TO the matter of an illustrated PAM
phlet setting forth clearly the method of vot-
ing and the preparation of blanks and all the
appliances for the successful working of the
new system. The voters of this county are, l
believe, in common with those of other parts
OF the state, III sympathy with this reform,
and II a full treatise or textbook can be issued
this summer, thorough study thereof can be
made very profitable. Yours respectfully,
GEO. L. HLSoM.
MIR. Hisom's suggestion of hand
book is responsive to our expression that
the friends of the new law should take
early steps to secure perfect uniformity
in Interpretation of the details of the law
by the County Clerks and Supervisors
and election officers. His plan of having
all the information embodied in a PAM
phletiis an excellent one and fairly meets
the JRECoRD-UNIoN's suggestion for a
conference of special friends of the law.
There are fifty-four counties in the State,
and hence fifty-four Clerks and over 200
Supervisors who must understand the
details of the working Of the new ballot
system that they may uniformly act and
properly instruct and with clearness,
leaving nothing whatever obscure or in
doubt, the 200 persons who are TO serve
upon election boards. If it is left, how
ever, to the officials in each county to in
terpret all the details of the new law
necessary to put it into effect, it is very
probable that there will be committed
some serious blunders.
The question is, then, how shall the
book of instructions be prepared? OF
course, what is done by the pioneer
friends of the law in preparing such a
pamphlet, will be unofficial and there
fore lack something that ought to be sup
piled, that is authoritive Interpretation.
But we apprehend that if the Governor is
asked to aid, he will do so, counsel
ing with the law officer of the State, and
others as he may see fit, and if he finds
theinstructions justified by the law, that
he viii give them semi-official indorse-
ment. For, of course, no official can
direct the clerks and Supervisors: the
law gives them its instructions directly,
and they alone must finally interpret it.
But we have no doubt whatever but that
all county officials whom the law ad-
dresses will be gratified to receive any
such commentary as is advised.
1t must not be assumed that the law is
intricate in its details. On the contrary
1t is clearly understandable, but it is
essential that uniformity shall prevail in
lnaugurating the new system, and it can
only be secured by some such plan as
suggested. Our idea is that the author of
the bill should call into council the citi-
zens who were especially prominent in
advocating the bill, and who have studied
the similar systems of other States. These
could readily prepare the pamphlet,
which would not be an elaborate thing.
since the instructions are capable of being
made clear in brief form. They might
then lay the document before the State
Executive, and if it met the approval OF
the State official, it could be sent to print.
In the meantime, however, there ought
to be a committee of the friends of the
law organized in each county whose self
imposed duty it should be to use all rea-
sonable means to secure proper local
action; to see to it that the enemies OF the
law do not succeed in making it appear
ineffective, cumbersome and obstructive
to the voters, for it must be kept in view
that there are those whose highest selfish
political interest resides in the defeat OF
the law and in rendering it obnoxious to
the people, with a view of thus securing
its repeal by the next Legislature.