The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1892-07-07
The Australian Ballot Law.

Editor Herald This is a foreign
law, adopted by our state legislature 10
control Lne ballot OF lOWaS American
voters, and ito enforce secrecy of the
ballot" All voters and citizens know
that when the Democratic party 60 to
the polls they vote straight Demo
cratic ticket from end to end. How
secrecy will be enforced in the Demo-
cratic party vote The law don't ex-
plain, though it devotes many sections
In trying to, how candidates snail be
nominated, and how many state and
county officers will record the nomina-
tions. Also how the ballot shall be
printed, and how many cards OF lnstruc~
Cion shall be printed for the guidance
of the voters. The copy of the ballot
clearly shows that a vast amount of
paper will be required for printing the
ballot, with a number of sections OF the
law to be posted at all polling places
that all voters may be wise unto them.
selves. 1t requires guard rail to be
80 placed that voters cannot approach
within six feet of the ballot box ;VOting
booths feet high, with three sides en-
closed and q door at one end to swing
outward, or a curtain; whether the Cur.
tain will be trimmed with red tassels
the law does not explain. The voter
cannot receive a ballot until he Is
within the enclosed space. Then he is
allowed ten minutes to deliberate then
he must enter one of the voting booths
and close the door after him, ike some
old deacon retiring to his closet for Sc
cret devotion; there approach the writ
ing desk one foot wide and of proper
height; on this prepare his ballot and
vote and get out from there in i've
minutes. Whether there will be a seat
prepared to sit on and write,or whether
the voter must stand, the law does not
explain, The most surprising feature
In the adoption Of this law at this time
| is the fact that it comes right on the
heels of high prices, corn raised at a
loss," real estate mortgages deVOuring
the people" the terrible calamity howl
that went forth throughout the nation
like q roaring lion seeking to devour
Americas industry and demoralize its
prosperity-with all this clatter ringing
| In onr ears the legislature Of Iowa has
passed a law that will cost the tax pay.
ers of Iowa many thousands Of dollars
| to comply with its demands. With
| the present prospect for a corn and
hog crop do the tax payers feel like
paying the bills required of them TO
put in practice this needless aristOcrat.
ic law. Since this law has been print.
| ed in the HERALD, have read 1t over
many times and reviewed many sec
tions, trying to discover wherein the
tax payers of Iowa will be benefited
politically. financially. domestically or
worldly, and fail to find anything but
a demand for more tax. The law
makes an unreasonable demand Of the
unlearned voters. Sec. 23, says, "any
voter who may declare upon oath that
he cannot read the English language,
or that by reason of any physical dis
ability he Is unable to mark his ballot
etc." Why demand our native born
Americans to declare upon oath that
they cannot ready How many of them
feel willing to comply with this de-
mand after NOting nearly lifetime
without any 4iestion with regard to
their learning; they have always had
honest friends and neighb0rs to fix
their ballot as they wished to vote 1t.
but the new ballot Law points out that
class of native born Americans and de-
mands of them to declare upon oath,
or get down and out without regard
for the amount of tax that class OF
voters have, and are still paying for
the support Of one of the best states In
the union. IL any expert in law can
explain how this new ballot law will
make our elections in Iowa any more
respected than they have been, or how
vast bill of expense TO be paid by the
public will benefit the masses or the
people, prevent fraud in counting OF
relieve the tax payer, there are many
people in Iowa would be glad to hear
from him. With my limited knowl'
edge and understanding Of law will
ingly confess can't explain.
ISAAC O. MIDDLETON.