The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-18
Ballot reform.

II is q source OF qualification to the morn
ING News that there Is gradually manifest
ing itself throughout the state a feeling in
favor of adopting the Australian ballot sys-
TEN. or some modification Of IL. For more
than three years the MORNING NEWS has
been urging this reform. 1t has called the
attention OF the legislature to it time and
time again, and now some Of the other
papers are favoriug it.
The Rome Tribune published an article
in favor of modification of the Australian
5yTssteoo--. : ce- Days ago, and sent copy of
IL TO Chief Justice Bleckley. In response
Judge Bleckley said:
1.-THE suggestion you make for the sdop-
tion in this state Of the Australian ballot
system. modified somewhat as has been done
IN Arkansss, seems 10 me wise and ju>
dicious
II say this upon the assumption that
abuses heretofore prscticed. and which you
have described SO graphically, are likely to
continue unless arrested by legislation.
Nothing is more manifest than that they
never should have existed and should not
exist now. The right to vote as the citizen
pleases, and without having to resist pressure
brought to bear at the polls to control or in
fuence his vote, ought to be held sacred.
"For nearly fortv-five years l have been
a voter, and during that time have not
attempted. by solicitation or other wise, to
exert any personal influence over any voter
at any popular election. AS 1 would not al
low any one to vote me, concede the same
freedom and independence to others which
claim for myself. This is the principle on
which all should act in dealing with high
and important function Of citizenship as
that of voting
81 am aware, however, that neither my
precept nor my example, nor both together,
will be any more influential in the future
than they have been in the past, and am
convinced that some such law as you pro-
pose is needed and likely to prove highly
useful. hope your wish for its enactment
may be speedily realized"
Those who have witnessed the local cleo
tons in this city this month must be con-
WINGED of the necessity of reform in the
system of voting. There is a large pur-
chasable vote In this county. and that it is
purchased will not be seriously denied. The
elections to a very large extent ore not an
expression of the popular will, because
very large percentage OF those who vote do
so for money. 1t is a matter OF indifference
to them whether one set OF officials are
elected or another. aud this will continue to
be the case as long as the present system
exists.
Vote buying is not confined to this county
or this state. The evil is as notorious in
other states as it is here, but it has been
checked in very great degree in those
states in which the Australian ballot sys-
tenn has been adopted. That system opens
the way for a voter to cast his ballot as he
pleases. The briber cannot give the man
he brides a ticket and follow him to the
polls. The vote buyer, therefore, hesitates
to pay money to voter who may not cast
the ballot he's paid to cast.
More that half OF the states have adopted
| the Australian system. or a modification OF
it, and it is time that Georgia was thinking
about it. 1t is strange that no member of
present legislature has thought of making
name for himself by securing the enact
ment Of ballot reform law.