Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-11-09
LIKE A CHARM
Worked the New Voting Sys-
tenn.
An Absence Of Expected Confu-
sion and a Presence of
Good Humor.

II the man who wrote: The ballots
fall az noiselessly
"As snow flakes fall upon the sod,
But execute the peoples will
AS lghtnings do the will OF God"
had lived in the Australian ballot era
he would have, written it quite differ
emily. The delicate ballot deaux OF a
decade and more ago inviting some man
or set of men to seats OF political honor
may have almost defed the law Of grav-
itation and have been waited slowly
down until it finally settled solemnly
upon the bottom OF the ballot box.
Everything now, however, is more in
conformity with more business like
times. The heavy blankets OF paper
upon which the combination ballot is
printed fail ker PUNK upon the bottom
OF the huge store box built solely with
reference to size and acoustic proper
ties, so that from one end OF the country
to the other there is concert OF dull
thuds." The will OF the people is, how
ever, more effectively il not 80 noise-
lessly educated than it used to be by the
elimination OF the repeater and the
suffer.
Yesterday wac the first trial OF the
noisy system in Arizona, and great
deal OF unnecessary noise and hustle
was added in Phoenix at least. There
was an undue anxiety on the part of the
managers of both parties get the voter
out early, under the impression that
the voting system had not been cut out
to fit the day. II was new thing, and
possibly like cart was long and time
was heeting." The revised statutes
had neglected to advertise that the
election like public auction would
continue from day to day until, etc."
Every sort Of vehicle from q wheel
barrow to street car was pressed into
service to convey the voter to the
booths.
At first everything was trifle awk-
ward. Notwithstanding the informs-
ton acquired in the voting kindergar-
ten established at the headquarters OF
both parties there was some little diff
Guilty in applying the instructions re-
ceived there to actual practice. The
raw edge was soon worn off, and the
officials about soon assumed an ease Of
manner and celebrity OF action calcu
lated to foster the impression that they
had been in Australian ballot booths.
There was none OF the confusion and
excitement that had been predicted.
Everyone was in good humor, per-
hsps more on account OF the novelty OF
the thing, Men stood patiently in the
long rows which were formed early in
the morning patiently awaiting their
turns.
Many voter found himself con-
fronted by perplexing problem on his
arrival at the booth, and when he
looked at the ungainly ticket spread be-
fore him he was uncertain whether he
was about TO asssssinate friend and
boost an enemy, or whether HE vote
was going TO be free and unfettered
expression Of his political opinions.
This was question he was unwilling to
gamble on, but remembering that go
eminent person as Chauncey M. De-
pew had Numbered at the ballot box,
the Phoenix Democrat muttered a
prayer to Andrew jackson. shut his
eyes, and the pencil did the rest.
Soon after noon IL was evident that
there had been needless alarm about
the length Of the day. The booths had
been transformed into machines which
worked with neatness and dispatch.
The only thing likely to disturb the
mechanism was clogging OF voters,
who might be held on. until late Tor the
purpose at last Of taking possession OF
the booths and occupying them to the
exclusion Of those OF the opposite party.
Even this fear was groundless and
when night came and with 1t the close
of the polls, there was general feeling
that so pleasant, orderly and uncertain
an election had never before been held
In Arizona.