The record-union., 1892-03-08

firmly forbid the fringe of would-be
counsel that viii hang over the guard
rail from telling voters how to handle
their ballots, or from instructing you in
your duties. One-half Of the blunders of
the December election were due to con-
fusion in the voters mind created by the
score of outside voices advising him and
debating with the clerks and judges.
1t is little thing to do, but very i'm
portant one at this time, while the people
are new to the official ballot system, for
one of the board to be selected to speak
to each voter as he receives his ballot,
Use the rubber stamp only. Stamp
names alone, or straight alone. Fold
your ballot before you come out of the
BOOTH" True, is this all printed on the
card of directions, but very many fail to
read it.
See to it that the booths are so guarded
that ballot cannot be passed from one
to the other overhead. If any one is dis
covered attempting to do it, (as was the
case in December), compel him to desist,
and if the ballot has passed, compel a re-
turn Of it, or the taking of new one.
1t is your right to do this, because the
passage of the ballot destroys the secresy
that is the one chief and central purpose
of the whole system.
Permit no voter to come out of a booth
with his ballot unfolded. That is a trick
the bosses have invented to enable a
yenal voter to expose to the boss lieu
tenants and hirelings who keep close to
the guard rail the proof that he has
stamped his ballot according to agree
ment, and to enable him to claim the
coin for the sale of his birthright.
Be very diligent in preserving the in
tegrity of the voting line. 1t is your
right; it is your duty. The ballot clerks
cannot do it because their attention must
be otherwise taken up. But the judges
and the inspector by relieving each other
can, one at time, keep an eye upon the
line, and see that repeaters are not put in
in order to delay voters, and that one
man is not preferred over another for
place in the line. 1t is your right to de-
mand of the police officer In attendance
to see that the privilege line is not abused,
as was badly done at the December cleo
ton. If you at the outset show determi-
nation. when the crowd comes the at
tempt to stuff the line will be abandoned.
Preserve quiet in the polling place. so
that every name and number called out
in loud tone by the ballot clerks may be
distinctly heard, and that the response of
the tally clerks may also be heard. Such
is the letter and intention of the law you
are intrusted with enforcing under your
oaths.
II a voter declares that he cannot read
and write he must make oath to that eff
feet and a record be made oft. He is en-
titled to have one Of the board assist him
in stamping his ballot, but not an out
slider. If the voter cannot speak English
he is not entitled to an interpreter outside
of the board.
In the December election, at one polling
place, late in the day, twenty-one consec-
utive ballots inside of ten minutes were
deposited without the inspector waiting
to ascertain if the ballot number CORE
sponded with the tally clerks list. The
law is very clear and direct upon this
point, and it is very essential that it be
observed. If it is not. fraudulent voting
will be possible. It is of vital importance
that every ballot be identified by number
when deposited. 1t is the main guard
against illegal voting.
If you Will take especial pains to-day,
in this newness of the system, to instruct
voters, and to follow every detail here in
dicated, and for which the intent of the
law provides, you will confer lasting
benefit upon your community and upon
the whole State. Remember that there
are in Sacramento to-day officers from
other cities and counties watching with
great solicitude your every action. Let
them go home with the story to their peo-
pie that such was the careful and discreet
conduct, such the frmness and manliness
of the Sacramento election boards that the
spirit and letter Of the law was preserved
intact, and the new system given fair
and honest trial, and every voter pro-
tected in his right