The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-21
BALLOT REFORM.
tame Observation on the Form Proposed
~ .Jndua HINT

noms Observations on the Form Proposed
by Judge Hunt.
WocpvrnLH. Dec. 20.--To The INpErEND.
SNr. With pleasure ] have read the able
articles Of Judge Hunt as thoy have APP
pearsd from time to time in The SUNDAY
-INDErENpENr on proposed amendments to
che Australian system Of voting. The Judge
10 an abls writer and has the happy faculty
OF making his points clear. However much
one may differ from the sentiment ex-
pressed. they are sure to be interested. In
attempting TO simplify the ballot. however.
] think his honor has overlooked one of its
most vital features. His whole aim seems
10 be In the direction of making II easier
Tor al elector to vote a straight ticket than
what is ordinarily called q scratched"
one. On the printed form OF his proposed
ballot he has the different patty tickets in
separate columns, thereby rendering 1T
more dificult TO vote for the candidate or
candidates of more than one party than
under the present system. At the head OF
each party ticket he places a blank square
~uurrounded by the words, for a straight
ticket mark here" He further urges that
the provision of the law allowing an assist
ant TO one not able to mako out his "
ballot be stricken ou.; urging that an
slector not able to read or write can soon
be taught to vote a straight ticket by mark
ing III Abu6 luuR6 b DEOpbbCo hpAAoW o4A"Ao
Ut the head of the ticket.
Blu suppose a man was not able to read
or write, and yet he wished to vote for
candidates ON more than one ticket. The
Judges plan would bar him from this natu-
raj right. Upon this system, a party once
in power would stay in power for ages. for
there would always be enough i2noramuses
who would be compelled to vote the
straight ticket, to keep the balance on its
side when once 1t was there. Under the
present law it takes an elector as long to
max out out q straight ticket as 1T does q
'~scratchedn one. This 10 one of the sys-
toms greatest and best features. Voting
straight tickets has enslaved the American
people. II we had scratched every man on
our tickets whom we knew to be a scoun
drel there would not be a single specimen
OF class legislation on the statute books OF
the nation. Only a small percent of our
people take part in nominating conven-
tions, and then only such, in the main. as
have political aspirations; hence 1t 10 COM
paratiyely easy FOR a villain to secure a
nomination, which too often, under the
straight ticket system of voting. amounts
TO an election.
II we amend the present law by adopting
the form of ballot proposed BY Judge Hunt
an employer might easily tell by the length
of time the elector remained in the booth
whether or not he voted Il straight ticket;
for the time necessary to make a single
GAoub 0u M ACoAA ~ hA5 pAShOs VSAAA ~ -
much less than would be necessary in order
TO mark in fifty or more different places on
the ballot. Hence the employer who is
mean enough to claim a mans vote be-
caus he employs him, might easily guess
that the man was oratohing." This
amendment is in the nature of q gross in
fringement of the compulsory secret char
acter Of the ballot. My " observation is
that the opponents of the kangaroo system,
in its entirety, are in favor of having each
party ticket in separate columns, which
simply destroys the secret feature.
The adoption of the form OF ballot pro-
posed by Judge Hun will amend the secret
ballot ont OF existence. Ingenuity could
not devise a more complete or cunning
scheme for this purpose than that of the
case now at bar.
Any alteration of the existing law which
would give those on the outside of the
boosh grounds for guessing how an elector
voted is an alteration in the interest of
those who seek by force, fraud and crime
TO control his vote. Some of the points
presented Dy the judge meet with my ap-
prevail; for instance where an elector hands
the judges a printed slip upon which are
the words, Il can neither read or write and