The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-12
THE "INITIATIVE."
Experimenting With a New
Voting System.
Trades Unions Throughout the Coun-
try Will Now Probably Adopt
the New Method.

Metropolitan Ball was yesterday the
scene of practical test of the new system
of Initiative" voting by members of trades
unions.
The occasion was a general election OF
officers OF the International Cigar-makers'
Union. BallOting was carried on under
the Australian system, and everything went
of smoothly
Secretary Van Guelpen, who Is also can
didate for the international yice-presidency.
expressed himself as highly satifed with
the results of yesterdays experiment.
Lower Metropolitan Hall bad been fitted
up like the interior OF an election booth. A
table, surrounded by wooden railing.
was situated in the middle of the hall, and
upon it was the bsl0t-oox and tally-sheets.
Two election officers superintendent the
operations.
Voting commenced at 10 o'clock A. NJ. and
continued until 10 o'clock at night, when
some $50 ballots had been cast
Those members who failed to turn up at
the polls were gently admonished that this
was contrary 10 the regulations by having a
fine of 81 apiece imposed upon them. This
was of course in order 10 secure full vote.
Secretary G. w. Van GueDen explained
the system in detail TO a CALL representa-
tive WHO was present. commenting on Ii as
be went along.
you see" said he. "as things used to be,
convention nominated all officers, ana the
| same objections that are raised against
| State Legislature appointing United States
| Senators were applicable here. We thought
| we saw an improvement in this initiative
| system and were the first 10 put il into
practice; but l hardly think We'll be the
! last.
Our executive body meet at the head
| quarters in Chicago and appoint day on
| which every union throughout this country
| and Canada shall assemble to nominate
candidates for the executive Off es.
THE nominations are made and sent on to
| headquarters. where Trey are canvassed,
| and the men who receive the five highest
votes for each Office become candidates.
! Before having their names printed On the
| ballots, however, each nominee must write
a short summary of bis views and inten-
| tiOns on the principal questions that the
union has to deal with. This is his party
| platform, and without 1t he cannot be
recognized as q candidate. These platforms
| are published In our official organ, and an
other day Is set on which the general cleo
| ton is TO be held.
THE Australian system OF ballotIng Is
| prescribed, aud in accord with the idea of
registration is a system Of having each voter
| hand his duebook to be examined aud
stamped by the election officer His date
| OF admission to the union Is also inquired
| into, and if he be found to be q member In
| good standing he is entitled to vote.
After the votes have been cast the local
! officers make count and send the result
| together with their tally sheets to the cam
! wasting board at Chicago. There another
| canvass Is made and the results of the cleo
ton declared. Everything has turned out
! we'll so far. and l fully believe that this is
the most effective means OF elecuDg officers
by the people,"
The cigar-makers are also the first to make
| use Of the referendum" means of hay-
| ing each amendment to the constitution OF
| the organization voted on by the individual
mem bers. There is a measure now strug-
| Cling to get through the present Legislature
| which has In view precisely the same idea.
1t will be rememb ered that a short while
| ago petition was circulated throughout
| the State demanding that this bill become a
! law. Ii was signed by over 20, 000 people
| AS the referendum" is worked in the
labor union, it has proved entirely salts
| factory.
Amendments or changes In the constitu-
ton demanded by any individual union
must be seconded by at least twenty others
before it can be even considered by the
executive body. Then a direct vote of the
meEibers throughout t5s country is required
to pass it, as in general election Of officers.