The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-20
The BALLOT LAW TALK.
Very Strong Notion That Amend
ments Are Needed.
BUT NO DEFINITE IDEAS,
Ellery II. Wilson Says The Revision OF
The judiciary system VIII Have To
Be Taken Up Early In The Next ses-
sion of 1he Assembly.

AS has been stated several times in the
NEWS, there is "A growing feeling that the
Australian ballot law as it now exists in
Rhode Island, will have to be amended
or large number Of citizens will be dis
franchised at every election.
The result OF the last congressional
election shows that about per cent of
the voters were DISTINGUISHED and the bal
lot law Is blamed for the fact that the
vote for presidential electors ran away
ahead of that for congressman,
While "A feeling prevails TO great ex-
tent that the law ought TO be amended,
nobody has as yet settled on any definite
idea of what will remedy the evil. There
is no politics in il aud those who want
the law amended are in for getting fair
show all around. Besides the particular
point that the Australian ballot law
needs amending, the whole election sys-
tenn needs re-arranging.
1--WE have" said "A prominent Republi-
can member Of the General Assembly to-
day different laws for presidentive, con-
gressional and State auu municipal cleo
lions aud they ought To be made uni
form"
II have in my mind certain ideas on
the subject, but / cannot say just what
ought To be done and would not be sure
that my ideas were right. Tie matter
will not come up as party matter, but
will be discussed from the standpoint of
wnat is best Tor the state. l."
The revision OF the statutes which
will come up early III the session Of the
Assembly" said Eilery IL. Wilson to-day,
"witl not interfere with the amendment
of the voting laws. We would take the
latter up and act on IL aud refer it TO
the commission for incorporation in the
revision. The judiciary revision is in
"a. sa.N.ae 81 saF h..
vision, and 1t will be taken up separately
and early in the session. must get
the revision of the judiciary out of the
way because IL is "a sort OF center, around
which the rest OF the revision revolves
and the commission cannot tell what to
do with the other laws until the judiciary
II settled.
1t will not be party matter" con-
tinued Representative Wilson. The
Republicans are united on the matter of
the revision and can approve II, OF course,
but IL will not be parry issue"
The Australian ballot law has hereto
fore been tested only In state aud city
electious, but last fail it got "a hard rub
in the presidential aud congressional
elections, aud IT became apparent that
something was needed To prevent the
people from DISTINGUISHING themselves.
TO be sure, the ballots are easy enough TO
handle If any one has looked into the
MAJ ter aud thought it over, but the ma
jority of people haven't done that, and 10
10 the polIs utterly ignorant of what they
are going To do, ana ou top of that get
the idea that voting Is an awe-inspiring
act aud they get 'ra, tied.
Some people nave notion that the old
system of printing party ballots Is the
best, but very few nave any desire To see
that sy stem In vogue again. "Peddling"
ballots at tue polls was always a nui-
sauce a d always will be, but while
thousands of people do not want that
they insist thai there must be some way
IN which the law eau be amended To
make 1T easier TO discern the result of
ones voting and at the same time pre-
serve the secret ballot.
The mau VINO mas n remedy for the
diiiiculty which will cure The evil aud
meet the appreciation Of all parties ia
Rhode Island viii he in fair way TO win
considerable renown. lie might even
get his name attached TO the ballot sys-
TEN of the state
Perhaps the Republicans have been
negligent in the matter OF instructing
the voters in the use OF the ballot The
Democrats have certainly taken more
pains in that line. Tney started in on
the assumption that members OF tnat
party did not have the amount of educa-
tion possessed by Republicans and Jney
oyercame the difference and more too, 30
that they leally nad some advantage in
the election for that reason.