Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-23
OUR NAIL POUCH.
Mr.. Corey Has a Ballot Plan.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:

10 the Editor of The Dispatch:
As the time and expense of the present
| Legislature has been frittered away IN good
part i'll wrestling with ballot reform, word
| upon this pretended reform might be III
place. Why secret ballot att all II integrity
| In public affairs is desired? "Men love dark
ness rather than light, because their deeds
are evil said the great Teacher. ~ good
| cause does not require secrecy, and bad
one should not have advantage OF it," The
| citizen, with the American freemans ballot
in his hand, is put in charge of so sacred a
| trust as to challenge angels and men to wit
ness him. A man who has not the intelll-
gence, integrity and courage to faithfully
discharge this trust should not be intruSted
with it. The evils resulting from the exer-
else of the ballot is not as great as has been
the lack of integrity on the part of the men
receiving the votes of the people. It's u clear
case of like people like priest. a reform tEat
will purify the body polite must begin with
the people themselves. Educate people to
rely upon the State for their support, and
the result will be veniality in public office.
Our Government franchises are regarded as
legitimate spoils rather than the object of
the highest type of patriotism. Our Congress
men and legislators are held in
esteem in proportion to their ability
to secure Government appropriations
upon the rule of addition, division and
silence. What bUrlesque upon common
sense to read the proceedings of our legis-
lat1ve bodies as they wranGle over profeSsed
reforms of protection against themselves!
such trayesty upon legislation, truth and
common decency should make every intell1-
gent man and woman in our State blush to
the roots of their hair.
But if it's ballot reform we need, let us
have it, and let it begin with our Legisa-
ture. Let those old political stagers who
for half century have been voting to loot
the public treasury. whose every vote mas
represented pull OF one kind or another,
cast their first vote in the interest of honest
legislation. Let these would-be refOrmers
get the beam out of their own eye, and q
real reform will take place. If protection IS
needed against abuse of the American citl-
zen's ballot, take away this veil of secrecy,
or at least so much as Will cause the man to
feel that the eyes of the nation is upon him.
If there are men so base as to attempt to
mtimidate, corrupt or prostitute the Amer
lean ballot, then pass q law diSfTanchlSlnS
the man who buys or sells his vote from
ever holding office or voting again. Make it
n criminal OffenSe for any man to ask
another citizen on election day to vote his
ticket, punishable by fine and the for
felture OF his own vote. This Will stop all
pernicious interference with voting at the
polls.
Let the State or county furnish all tickets,
placing the names of all the candidates upon
one ticket for State offices; the same fOr
county and township Offices Let each and
every candidate pay his pro rata share of
cost of printing the tickets, these to be given
out to the voters on the day of election, who
shall take the same and erase the names of
all candidates except the man he wants to
vote for, any ticket with more names upon
it than the voter is entitled to to be thrown
out. Any voter who cannot read should be
allowed to request the judges of election to
prepare his ticket. Then, with head erect
and firm step, let him deposit his ballot,
leaving the polls feeling, as said Ben Butler,
"that a freeman's ballot does his will
lightning does the will of God" Let the
voters vote in the same manner for Presi-
d-nt and Vice President, and for all the
offices in the nation in the same way. Adopt
a system of this kind, and if the people want
reform they can have it.
Instead of caucus candidates being put on
the ticket let it contain the name of every
man who wants to run and is willing to pay
his share of election expenses. Let the can
didateS for President and Vice President in
each State receiving the highest vote be put
up and voted for by the whole people a
second time, the candidates with most votes
being the voters choice. This will secure
honesty in public affairs. Citizens whose
only desire is good and pure government
viii discriminate and vote former of known
integrity, while the office seekers and spOils-
men will all vote for themselves, thus insur-
ing the election of honest men.
Let the reform CRY of the people take on q
practical turn until the salaries in public
office will offer no greater inducement than
the same services would command in other
persuits. This, am aware, will be set down
as an utopian idea. / grant it. great deal
of this hue and cry for ballot reform and re-
form in public service is at best the rawlings
of visionary enthusiasts and hyDocritical
office seekers, intended as a blind to cover
up some deeprlaid scheme to loot the public
treasury. "Who can bring clean thing
out of unclean?' No one.
Mr.. Editor, please give this little screed a
place in the peoples column and obige one
of your old fOgy readers. j. 3. COREY.
PTTT5BURG, May 81.