The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-11
OUR ELECTION LAWSUIT,

OUR ELECTION LAWSUIT.
1t should be- a subject of pride for
the people of this state to know that
Montana was one of the very first to
adopt the secret ballot law, and it is safe
to say that it's enactment did a great
deal to secure independence in voting
within the limits OF our state. The
people righteously would not, for a mo-
ment, ~countenance its repeal or any
modification which would remove It's
greatest feature, secrecy. Our only ell
fort should be to simplify and make a
great law more perfect.
The first material amendment to be
suggested is the style OF the ballot. Al
ter observing three practical tests ana
listening to the opinions of men, repre-
senting all conditions of voters, edu-
Gated, half educated, illiterate, native
and foreign born, l have been forced to
the conclusion that the official ballot
should contain the names OF the noml-
nees of the party they represent placed
in perpendicular columns, and not, as
under our present official ballot, ar
ranged alphabetically without respect
to party. | know there will be opposi-
ton to this recommendation, out it is
made after a study of all the latest Sc
cret ballot laws and with no motive in the
world except the general interest OF the
whole people to secure a full, complete
and accurate expression OF opinion up
on election day made in the very sim
plest form. A thoroughly intelligent
man will vote any ticket that is pre-
sented to him correctly, 80 that such
persons need not be considered as much
as those Of less intelligence. To better
explain my comments upon the law,
however, a proposed official ballot will
be given in part in a later issue OF The
INDEPENDENT. The style recommended
is a combination of the official tickets
of Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho
and Montana, used in the elections last
month.
The sections of our present law relat-
ing to preparing ballots should be
amended so as to require the ballot to
be In accord with the proposed sample
to be published. In its arrangement
precedence should be given to the party
which polled in the state the highest
number of votes for the head of the
ticket in the next preceding general
election. This is perfectly fair. The
ballot should be so printed as to give
each elector a clear opportunity to des-
ignate, by a cross mark in a blank cir
cular space t~hree-quarters Of an inch in
diameter, or a square, below the name
of the party at the head of the ticket or
list of candidates, his choice of a party
ticket and desire to vote for each and
every candidate thereon; and by a cross
mark in a blank enclosed space on the
right and behind the name of each can
didate his choice of particular candi-
dates, except as to voting for presiden-
tial electors. The simplest way to vote
for president is to follow the Massa-
chusetts form, which requires the names
of the candidates for president and vice
president to be printed on one line at
right angles with the length OF the bal
lot, in capital letters above the respect
i've groups Of candidates for electors
There should be left at the right of the
party or political designation, a sufficient
clear square in which each voter may
designate, by a cross mark, his choice
for electors; and no other clear margin
or space should be left in any sucl
group of candidates. When the voter
desires to vote for an entire group oil
,,rlilo{ao Gov a1antnra ba eb,1I r1,,o liz
cross mark in the square Mt the right o.
the party Immediately above such grouI
and such cross mark should count as {
vote for all the candidates in such
group. If a voter desires to scratch
presidential eiector in the group TO.
which he marks let him erase the nam,
of such candidate, and the cross mari
should hen count as a vote for all tn,
other candidates in such group. Whel
he desires to vote for another person il
place of the candidate whose name h.
has erased he may insert in one of tn,
blank spaces at the end of the group
of candidates for electors. the name O
the person of his choice and place
cross mark in the square at the right q
such name.
When the voter retires to prepare hi
ballot, if he desires to vote a straigh
ticket, he shall:
(a) Make a cross mark in the ~circula
space or square below the name OF th
party at the head Of the ticket; or,
(bl Make a cross mark Oh the right {
and opposite the name of ench an
every candidate of such party in tn
blank space provided therefor.
IL the voter desires to vote a mixed
scratched ticket he shall:
(a) Omit making a cross mark IN til
circular space or square below the a