New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-18
URGING A BLANKET BALLOT LAW.
LEWIS L. DELAFIELD PLEADS IN VAIN BEFORl
AZ ASSEMRIN CONMITTE.E.

LEWIS L. DELAFIELD PLEADS IN VAIN BEFORE
AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTED.
Albany, March Il tSpeciaD.-Lewis l.. DeiaheIu' Vi
the Peoples Municipal League OF New-iOrK, appeared
before the Assembly Committee on General LAWS uhe
afternoon and earnestly supported Assemblyman Conk
ngs Blanket Ballot BILL which is identical with that
which Senator Saxton introduced lately In the senate
He said that the abolition Of the pasterballot ana The
substitution for It OF the banketb ballot would prevent
most OF the bribery ofivoters now perperaeo MOTT
over 1t would lessen hreefourhs OF the cost OF tio
ballots The blanket-baots for the State election III
Massachusetts, for instance. last year only cost a
otate $4,000 As for the untorae voter by the sym
bols provided for In the ballot could easily select the
candidates for whom lie desired to cast his vote Inc
iuiterate voter always voted the straight parry
tcketn so that it would be IN easy matter for nm
TO select his list Of candidates al never heard of an
iterate Independent" said Mr.. Delafeld
"No.n said Assemblyman Keller :" the cranks can
usually read and write"
"Can the iterate voter use paster on the planheE
BALLOT" inquired Mr.. Keller
"He cannot" replied Mr.. Delafeld, "but by taxing
sample ballot into the booth he can easily seiecp Ills
candidates and mark his choice
"Can Il man write upon the blanketbaot the name
of any candidate he may selectf'
ono replied Mr. Dclafeld, Z" for that would lead to
the Identification of the ballot We think that Is n
constitutional provision in view of the intent OF the
law 10 preserve the secrecy OF the ballot. Permit
me 10 saw that the blanketbalOt has been sue
cess wherever it has been tried and that Inc
Australian ballot system has never even partially been
a falufe except where the paster ballot or some oher
abomination was attached 10 It, Even the present
BALLOT law is an Improvement upon the old ballot sys-
tenn"
Or Delaheld said In closing that the oolecuon maze
10 adopting the blanket ballot the present year WAS
that voters could not In one year be drilled 70 us use
and therefore there great danger OF some voters
beine disranchsed in Presidential year II 1t shoulo
he adopted In view Of this objection he would say
that the Democrats and Republicans who had drawn
uu this bill would accept an amendment provolhg
that the law should not 60 into effect until January l.
1893 This would take the first practice Of the new
system past Cie period Of the Presidential election
81 iyC-aheld then spoke upon Mr. Farquhars pro
messed amendments the present Ballot law ana sald
that the requirement. that the Endorsement OF the
ballots should be uniform met with his approval iet
he could not approve Of that provision Oh 'he OH
which permitted the candidate Of regular party 70
file a general cnveat against the use Oh lis i'ie -
Independent voters on their balots .,o. y, bic hill
and the committee resolved to report ~ ~ MI,
MI FarQuhaf then pressed for approva ol S tb D
reonrfng rural voters personally 10 reelstcr ueid
names With boards OF registration. Ire cot.m :,
rotea 10 report TINS bill favorably. 1t IS douoGu
The rurah Democrats will vote for this OH anu cei
tainIy every Republican will vote against H. shoe
there Is no necessity for It,