The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-09-22
The Australian Ballot.

The result of Maine 5 experiment with
the Australian ballot systeln is lust what
might have been expectec. 1t has prac-
tically DISTINGUISHED a large percentage of
voters while not a few have voted fol
the other man. The secrecy of which
so much was said beforehand, was not
maintained, opportunities tor manipulate
ing voters were not wanting. and in some
instances there are grave suspicious that
been. When the people come to pay the
bills for this unwieldy and unnecessary
innovation. introduced under the spec
lous garb of reform, there promises to be
some pretty vigorous kicking. The sys-
tenn is even condemned by its friends.
MI. W. H. Looney of Portland, author
of the first bill introduced in the Maine
Legislature, now proposes four amend
ments to make an ''ideal law One of
these amendments is ''That the ballots
cast should be preserved one year, and a
recount made if demanded The Port
land Press, an earnest advocate Of this al
legged reform. promptly sits down upon
Mr.. Looney' proposition, and points out
the evils OF a recount. 1t well says: Let
the first count be surrounded with ali the
safeguards that can be devised. ana let
that he final
The Portland Advertiser. another jealous
advocate OF the Australian ballot system.
says The most general criticisms that
We Aearare that secrecy is not sufficiently
guarded: that the booths are. in MANY
cases, too near the rail too open and gen
orally too subject to scrutiny of the voter
both from outside and inside the rail: that
the form of the ballot is such that spot
tiers may easily tell whether a man votes a
straight or split ticket These are serious.
almost vital objections, and what is more
they are we'll founded.
The Aroostook Republican. which fay
Connection:
The Australian Ballot has been called a
Secret Ballot. but there was no secrecy
here. The booths We're 50 arranged that
the thronging. surgin. crowd in the hall
faced the voters as they stood within
them. This crowd extended from the
rail in front of the booths back to the
door OF the room. and hanging to the rail
we've the old time heelers and strikers.
VIII" talked, at least in some instances.
with The voters whom they induced to 90
through the gates. That it was possible
for these heelers to see how the voters
marked theil BALLOTS was freely and OMEN
ly stated.
When once inside the rail the voter was
not free from influence and restraint be-
cause the heelers talked with him. as well
rs the ballot clerk. and it was seen from
all indications that as great an influence
was eNerted upon him as ever could have
been under the old system of voting.
How was it with the vast body of lllitelate
voters in our town? BY necessity. they
We're all placed at the mercy of partisan
ballot clerks. and, as they Went inside the
rail Instructed in advance as to what bal
lot clerk to select to mark their ballots
they left behind them the Independence Of
American citizens. We do not wish to
comment on the fact that when these
voters severally came into the inclosure
they were asked by the ballot clerks if
they desired them to mark their ballots.
because 1t would be too much to expect
that the clerks of the several parties would
be free from party zeal. yet as the ballot
law now stands, in town where there is
large body of illiterate voters, it will be
forever impossible to have from these
VOTERS OF tba;,.
the polls. 1t was said, when this bill was
passed, that it would forever prevent
bribery, corruption, intimidation and I'M
due influence Of voters. Close observa-
ton OF the voting yesterday proves this
claim to be entirely false Corruption
and bribery, we believe. are even more
possible than under the system of an open
ballot Now, we may say in truth while
we have no charges to make against any
party or any candidate. that the indica-
lions would raise a suspicion that greater
corruption and intimidations We're prac-
uced IN our election yesterday than ever
before.
The Republican concludes long article
on the subject as follows: CHOW. after
having observed its workings during one
election, we have no hesitation in SAVING
that the law never ought to have been
passed. and we say further. that we but
express the sentiment of a multitude.
when we say, it has operated as a travesty
upon free and honest ballot
Another vexed question is that as to
what constitutes ''defective ballots I'M
der the new law. The law gives wardens
a good deal of discretion in the matter.
Sect. ~ says: ~ for any reason it is i'm
possible to determine the rote1's choice for
an ctice to be flled, his ballot shall not be
counted for such Office At the same
time it requires the voter to prepare his
ballot by marking ''in the appropriate
margin OF place. cross opposite the
name of the party or the name of the man
he wishes to vote for. A correspondent
of the Portland Press says that, Under
this latter clause ballots were thrown out
in Deering which had the cross over the
party name, although the voters intention
was plainly evident. Another ballot had
crosses on the margin at the left of the
Republican ticket. This was also thrown
out although the voters intention was
evident. Another had straight lines against