The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-26
TO VOTE by ELECTRICITY.

From the immemorial time when som
benevolent and gifted genius first con
ceived the idea of franchise as a medium
for popular expression of choice, th
efforts OF all honest students of this vita
| question have been directed toward tn,
attainment of an ideal system by means
of which the most obtuse as we'll as tn,
brightest, the most illiterate as well a.
the most learned, can record his selection
in language unmistakable not only tC
himself, but to those to whom he wishes
TO signify his choice.
The step from the rude she'll of the
Greeks co the modern paper ballot was
vast and markedly important one, from
the clumsy method of casting the paper
ballot, so recently in vogue TO the Aus
tralian system, which insures TO every
man the privilege of recording mis- vote
without the unsolicited assistance Of the
professional rd-heeler (whose sole .func-
tion is to molest and make him afraid
was another gigantic stride in the right
direction.
But even the Australian ballot, i'm
measurably superior to all other systems
as it has proved itself TO be- is possessed
of some defects which deprive it of the
title of absolute perfection The Austria
liam system, il allowed TO stand fairly
upon its merits, that is TO say, if its prin-
ciples were accorded even a moderate in
vestigation by those who propose TO ex-
ercise the right of franchise-would stand
the test and prove the final solution of
the perplexing problem of inrallble suf-
frage.
But human nature is not constructed
on that plan. The ideal system must be
that by means of which the voter who is
not able to master a single idea beyond
the name Of the candidate for whom he
wishes TO vote, can go TO the polls and re-
cord his choice in language that will ad.
NIT of no misrepresentation. The care
less and careful, the stupid and the in
telligent, must unite under common
system that will afford equal results to
each.
The only objection to the Australian
method is that it involves in it's utiliza-
ton certain amount of technicality that
admits Of individual laundering. What
is wanted is a perfectly mechanical sys-
TEN, a system by which the voter may
press the button and the machine will do
the rest.
With this idea uppermost in his mind
4 mechanic of Rochester, y. Y, named
Meyers, has perfected an automatic vot-
ng machine, applicable to the Australian
method, which is, perhaps, destined to
'emove the only defects of that otherwise
admirable system. 1t is simply a me-
,hanical device for recording votes; all
he voter needs is the name of the candi-
late whose election he desires, together
With the ability to read. the power to dis
inguish color or the sense of touch. As
verybody possesses at least one Of these
hree latter requisites, it Is safe to say
hat any man who knows for whom he
wishes to vote can do so without the
possibility of mistake.
This ballot machine is a sheet steel
,ooth five feet square aud seven feet
Ugh. One foot OF space within is set off
or the secret mechanical counters by a
old steel PARTITION. The voter knows
he standard designating color of his
arty ballot; he has examined the Official
ominations published in newspapers
nd ON the chart at the polls After
the voter enters the ballot |
lachine or steel booth and there against
he steel partition or wall he sees the
arty nominations in separate columns.
de by side, six inches apart, each column
aving its column of push knobs. III the
otter is illiterate he pushes in the knobs
aving the same color as his party ballot
hich he knows to be the standard color
esignating his party Having done so
g simply goes out of the exit doors.
pening the outer exit door returns the
nobs in readiness for the next voter.
hen the polls close the count is all
ade and registered plainly in figures.
BY means of this machine it will be
zen that every possible cause for confu-
on, such as additional ballots, defective
arking, ballot mutilation, etc, may be
and that the man who is ca
,ble ofno greaCer mental effort than
the name OF the person
r whom he wishes to vote, can cast his
,llot as intelligently as the Judge of
ections himself
The first trial of this machine was made
Lockport. n. ", and the wonderful
ccess with which it supplied brains or
ltchfulness, rs the case may be, to sup
ement the lack of these elements in the
ter led to its almost immediate adop-
IN in numerous sections of that State.