The record-union., 1891-12-08
Yesterdays ELECTION.
The Reform Ballot System a Complete
Success.
All the Republican Candidates Elected
Some Egregious BIunders
Made by Voters.

terday. As test of the law it was a COM
tplete success. The Boards of Election in
all OF the precincts bear testimony to the
excellence Of the system, and the COM
plete bar it is to the old-time disgraceful
practices INDUCED in by FOUNDERS, re-
peaters and the servilors Of the venal ele-
ment in politics.
The ticket peddler was completely un-
done-his business was busted, so ex-
ploded that he will never again be able to
engage in it. The operation of the law
so emphatically showed the uselessness
of that individuals calling that he will
not be able to graft himself again upon
the political system.
The strikers, cappers, opium iends and
FOUNDERS, who have heretofore turned
pennies in serving the bosses, were hard
put to. The best left them was to fill up
the line to the ballot-box, and repeat the
operation where, late in the day, there
were voters waiting. This they did, in
order TO keep back voters whom their
masters did not wish to reach the polls
But there was even but little of this dirty
work, and the scrubby lot were but poorly
paid at best.
The booths were excellently arranged
The city officials are entitled to credit for
their careful preparation of the voting en-
anu ln6 DOOIilS. IN one or TWO
instances the latter We're placed too
closely together. In one Of these cases,
in the Second Ward, voter in a booth,
evidently under instruction to see ''goodS
delivered, - was seen to take the ballot
from the man in the booth next to him,
by reaching over the top, and soon after
70 return 1t to the voter. 1t was apparently
clear case of sell" 1t will be neces-
sary hereafter to put the booths fully four
feet apart.
The booths consist of light steel frames,
easily folded up. Around these curtains
OF canvas button on three sides. On the
mont, like curtain, parting in the mid
die, comes down half way. Thus the
public can see the feet and legs up to the
knees of whoever is in booth, but the
body Of the voter is screened. In the
booth is a shelf, and upon it the official
stamp and other material for the voters
use. In front of him as he stands at the
shelf is card of Instructions in large
type.
These booths are placed inside a rallied
Enclosure, at the remote side, but in full
view ofthe public. At the first entrance
to the inclosure sat the two ballot clerks
Back Of them q few feet was another and
similar inclosure, but within the larger
Inside of this sat the poll list clerks. In
front of them stood the ballot-box, and
beside it the judges and Inspector. The
voter entered the gate at the ballot clerks
desk. gave his register number or it was
found for him by the clerks. He received
his ballot, and the number and name was
loudly announced to the poll list clerks.
The elector then entered a booth, marked
his ballot and went to the ballot-boX.
Here his ballot number was called aloud.
The poll list clerks examined their list
and found the number opposite that
voters name and cried correct" The
inspector then detached the number from
the ballot and the vote was east, and the
elector retired by side gate.
That was the whole procesS-simple
easily comprehended and perfect security
10 the secrecy of the ballot and the right
OF the voter to be free from interruption
or intimidation.
4 gentleman who resides in Oakland.
and who witnessed the scandalous negli-
gence during the recent election there
when the new system was given its first
trial there, was in the city yesterday and
was loud in his praise of the manner III
which Sacramento took hold Of the mat
ter. The difference is as between day
and night" he remarked at the First
Ward polling place. Here you have
gone about it in the proper way. Your
ballots have been properly printed and
you have booths such as are demanded
by the law. 1 can't say half that much
or Oakland"
w. A. Brown, Registrar of San Fran
cisco, came up from the Bay for the ex-
press purpose of observing the operation
of the new law. He left for home on the
afternoon train. Before going he ex-
pressed himself as more than satisfied
that it was great success. He was par
ticularly commendatory of the style of
booths adopted by Sacramento, and said
he would use his efforts to have similar
ones adopted in San Francisco.
In the Second Ward there was quite a
lively contest between +. A. Crouch and
Jerry Payne, for School Director. At the
polling place, Armor. Hall, there were
crowds of the friends of each during the
day, but little work could be accom-
plished for either candidate aside from
F1mportuning friends and acquaintances.
There were several politicians there too,
but about all they had to do was to keep
warm. The voters here, as q rule, un-
derstood the requirements of the law and
lost little time in getting in and out of
the booths with their ballots The
booths were found to answer the purpose
admirably. In the evening the. judges
aud clerks were somewhat slow about
counting, for the simple reason that none
of fthem appeared to have read the law or
instructions thoroughly.
In the First Precinct Of the Third Ward
number of voters were ruled out. be-
cause their names do not appear upon the
precinct register, though upon the Great
Register. This was due TO the fact that
for this election certain precincts were
consolidated, and thus voters who must
=
could not show their names to be upon
the register of that precinct, because their
registration had, under a different sys-
tenn of boundaries, been in another pre-
cinct. The ruling created great dissatis-
faction and it is open to grave doubt con-
cerning its soundness.
4 novel, since new, challenge was in
tcrpoSed yesterday in the Second Ward.
4 man applied to vote and gave his resi-
dence as in a certain numbered house on
L street, between Third and Fourth. He
was challenged on the ground that the
place is house of prostitution, and that
hence he did not reside at that number.
Thereupon some one outside the rail
spoke up saying that if the man insisted
that he lived in that house he was liable
to prosecution for vagrancy. In the con-
fusion of tongues that followed the appli-
cant retired, but it was stated that later
he managed to cast his vote.
The vote of yesterday was not large for
this city, but larger than was expected,
since for the chief Office voted for there
was not opposition. Good order pre-
vailed, but the l00-foot law was generally
ignored. This provides that mo person
stall ask another at polling place for
whom he intends to vote. No
person shall solicit a vote or speak to a
voter on the subject of marking his ticket
within 100 feet of the polling place."
The result of the election for Freehold
ers to frame a new city charter was the
choice of the following citizens j. w.
r. T. DevIin, Christopher Green. L. B.
Hall, c. H. Hubbard Matt. 4. Johnson,
w. +. Knox, Jr., III. NJ. I.aRue, j. H.
Roberts, c.. l.. Simmons, S. B. Smith, Ii.
Weinstock and G. l.. White.
THE CANDIDATES..