The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-11-28
A PLEA FOR BALLOT REFORM.
THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM /.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

A EorcibIe Appeal for Reform in Our
Election Laws-The Benefits to be
Derived from a Change.
Representative Manning, of Sumter,
has published the following expression
of his views on ballot reform in the
Columbia newspapers, and his appeal
for change in our system at least
deserves the consideration of the
Legislature and the people:
AT the last session Of the Legislature
l introduced rough draft Of bill
dependence of voters at public elec-
tions and to enforce the secrecy of the
ballot"
This bill was referred to the appro-
pirate committee on privileges and
elections. When the bill was under
consideration / went before the COM
mittee and explained that this meas
ure was one of such great Importance
and the time was so fully taken up
during the session of the Legislature,
that l would ask the committee to ask
by resolution for the appointment of
commission which could take up this
matter during the recess, consider it
in all its bearings, and report bill
covering the purposes named at the
Legislature when it meets this winter.
made its report and offered the resolu-
tion asked for. But objection was
raised on the floor of the House to the
appointment of commission to work
during the recess, on two grounds.
First, that the work of such com
missions usually resulted in all the
work being done by one man, and,
therefore,. that one man had just Us
we'll do the work himself and come tC
the Legislature with his bill pre-.
pared.
Second, that it would involve ex-
pense. And so the matter was post
poned.
Now that the excitement incident
to the consideration of the financial
question in Congress has subsidized, and
this discussion has demonstrated in Q
very pointed way that there are
widely divergent views held by those
composing the Democratic party ir
this State, as we'll as elsewhere, and
that the differences of opinions are sc
sharp on this question as we'll as or
others almost as important, it leads
me to believe that the day is not fan
| distant when those who believe il
| doctrines set forth in the Ocala plat
| form and those who do not believe il
those doctrines but believe in stric
adherence to the principles embodied
in the platform of the national Demo
cracy, and in those principles which
have President Cleveland as theil
| highest exponent, cannot pull together
in one party, and will again bring the
matter of change in our election law!
before the Legislature before such ca
tastrophe befalls us, and we are
brought face to face with the condi
| of n iui ,uh 70 utf ~
no means that are sanctioned by Law
and order to prevent the issues of The
day from being decided by an ignoran
colored vote.
| expect to introduce q bill in th,
Legislature this winter that L hop,
will meet the approval of all thos,
who have the highest interest of tn,
State at heart, and which | believ,
will do much to remove an evil whicl
is an over-increasing one and whicl
has in measure demoraliZed ou
people.
The word which has q charm abou
it in these days of changes and pre-
gress is reform. 1t is well that this
so, but before we make sweeping
changes let us start ut the founda
tion. With our form of government
we will never rest on sure and soil
| Duoio uDuii Wc hdFo VI Slet
tions that will give the true expires
sion of the intelligent popular viii
without itimidation and fraud, tn
baneful accomplishments which hav
characterized too many of our elet
tions.
Public discussion of measures wi
amount to very little il, after such et
ucation as results from public discus
sicns, there is opportunity for tn
easy miscarriage of the verdict OF ele'
tors. That abuses have been pra,
ticed under our election laws, no cal
did man will deny. That these abuse
will continue to be practiced in OF
elections unless arrested by legisli
} ton, no impartial observer will col
trovert. 1t Is useless for me to 90 owe
, the ground that is so familiar to yo,
: readers to explain in what way thes
} abuses arose, why they have grow
} and continued to be exercised. In
: few words-the presence in our mid
OF an ignorant population, one that O
, cupies u low position in the scale