Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-18
VOTING SIX HUNDRED YEARS AGO.


Safeguards Against Fraud Employed nj
City Elections In Florence.
Nowadays when almost all the ma
tons of the world are discussing the
adoption of the Australian ballot system
people little realize that such ideas ara
not as new as they seem. Well nigh
six centuries ago in the city of Florence
was organized q system of voting resem-
bling in its essential principles the ballot
recently adopted. This is not mere hear
say either, for n historian who lived at
that time, Giovanni VILLAIN, has given Us
full account of it.
The city of Florence had begun 20 tire
of the arrogance and bribing methods of
the mobiles about the year 1928. so it de
cided to pass laws by which fair cleo
lions might be held. The city was gov
erned by six priors, elected for term
OF two months. Now, it was decided by
an assembly that these priors, together
with two persons selected from each of
the six districts of Florence. should come
together and make n list of all the citi-
zens more than 80 years of age in Flor
ence that were at all worthy of the office
of prior.
This list was then presented TO conn
III VI "a ALAE pa Al1lNNAS anu
{ wise men" of the city. who voted ON
each name separately. The votes were
collected by six wise and discreet
monks. They consisted of white and
black beans and it took 6S black beans
to elect a candidate. The counting was
done secretly in a neighboring room by
the monks. and the result was immetli-
ately announced to the assembly. who
IA e., II,
When the whole list had thus been
gone through, all those who were elect
ed had their names written together
ON large scroll and also each name
written separately ON a little slip. These
little slips We're thrown into Il bag. And
then comes quaint custom. The large
scroll WAS kept in the sacristy Of the
convent of the Fral Preiicatori.
The bags. one for each Office IN the
government. Were put in strong chest
that was locked. and the three keys that
could open it Were given, one 10 Frati
COnversi iii Settlmo. one To the capitanu
or general Of the Florentine army and
one to the sacristau Of the Frati Minori.
The chest itself was stored i'll the >aCristy
of the latter monks.
Ii is seen how rehgiuusly all bribery
and ballot box stuffing was stopped. NJ
/ Florentine. no matter how much hs
hated the monks, would darr To commit
such crime in the sacriSty uf church
He did not feel anxious 10 b burning IL
hell fire after he died But to - al
with the election. fvr a. Vet no officer
had been elected. he had only bst.n IL.
clared eligible to the Office.
When election time came around. tn,
thirteenth day Of every other MONTH tn,
priOrs, with the general council If tn,
people, would assemble and cause tn,
chest to be brought forth, Then. in tn,
presence Of the entire assembly the ha-,>
containing the slips were taken out AN,
after being carefully mixed one slip WA
taken ont from each. and the Tz.r>ol
whose name was an that slip Wa lie
clared elected. Thus an entirely n,v
set of officers was chosen every tiInr.
This mode of election. VILLAIN tells u
was ratified in full parliament in III
place IF the priors where many pcupl
We're congrcgatel and where r1an,
speeches Were made. rraising the Law
and condenning to severe punishment
those who might oppose il" And ye
We say socialism Is essentially thing 81
the present ceEFurv.-PittsburE Chroui
cle-Telegraph-