The Portland daily press., 1892-06-03
VOTING SCHOOL.

The Australian System As Explained
Last Evening-The Central Labor Un-
ions Successful Meeting - Remarks by
Messrs. Ingraham, Chadbourne, Looney
and Fessenden.
The exemplifcation of the practical
working of the Australian ballot system
last evening at City Hall, under the
auspices of the Central Labor Union, was
a very successful and interesting affair,
although the audience was much smaller
than the importance of the subject and
the excellence of the speaking deserved.
The northeastern corner of the hall on
the main floor was fitted up ready for
election purposes; the duties of warden,
ward clerk and election and ballot clerks
being performed by members of the
Young Mems Republican and Young
Mems Democratic clubs and other gen.
tlemen in the audience.
On the stage were Mr. VIM. J. Healy,
president of the Central Labor Union,
Mayor Ingraham, Hon.,B. F. Chadbourne
of Biddeford, Hon. Nicholas Fessenden,
secretary of state, and others. Mayor
Ingraham was introduced by Mr.. Healy
as presiding officer of the evening. He
spoke briefly of the purposes of the meet
ing, and the Importance to every man of
thorough understanding of the method
of exercising the invaluable right of suf-
frage.
Mr.. Chadbourne was next introduced
by Mayor. Ingraham and made very in
teresting speech, in which he explained
the rights of the voter and the simplicity
of the new system. Any man who can
read and write can understand the Aus
tralian system of voting. Mr.. Chad
bourne complimented very highly the
fair, impartial, and able manner in which
the Secretary of State was carrying out
the provisions of the law.
Mr.. Looney was the next speaker. He
explained that the Australian system of
voting was no new system, and that when
in promoting the new law the objection
was made that it was difficult and COM
plicated, the answer was that system
that could be used successfully in Italy,
in Switzerland and other countries of the
old world must certainly be within the
intelligence of the voter of Maine. Mr..
Looney claimed for the new law the
eradication of bribery in large measure
and the absolute overthrow of every kind
of intimidation.
The principal and last speaker of the
evening was the Secretary of State. Mr..
Fessenden said that when invited to be
present this evening his first thought
was that the demand on his time was
such that he could in no way
accept, but on second thought
it seemed to him that he
could in no way better perform the du-
ties of his Office. The correspondence
that he had received in relation to this
law suggested to his mind the fear that
not only the bribable voter might be kept
away from the polls, but that the honest
voter might be afraid of becoming in
volved in the complications of the law
and stay at home. AS a matter of fact,
1T is as easy for the voter as trolling off
a log" II say this said Mr.. Fessen-
den, although / opposed the law before
its adoption and if it were not the law I
"oUlA ooill OPPooO IL, Uuu IL 10 Gllo ldW
and it is my duty, and the duty of every
good citizen, to obey it and to do all in
our power to promote it's successful
working. A fair reading of the law
would show no more defects than can be
found in any other law of the same num-
Der of sections on our statute books.''
Mr.. Fessenden then went into an elabo-
rate explanation of the duties of the
municipal officers, wardens, clerks, and
election officers substantially as has al
ready been explained at length in the
columns of the PRESS. The practical
work of voting, as illustrated under Mr..
Fessenden's direction, showed that there
was no difficulty, so far as depositing the
ballot in the box was concerned. Mr..
Fessenden gave an opportunity for ques-
tions from the audience and answered all
in very courteous and able manner.
He is a gentleman whom the citizens of
Portland will be glad to meet again, and
in whatever capacity he may see fit to
come. The speakers all are to be con-
graduated on having an audience who lis
L. u.