Evening journal., 1893-06-30
TING SIX HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Safeguards Against Fraud Employed at
~ Ill.,.

Safeguards Against Eraud Employed at
CITY Elections In Florsneo.
Nowadays when almost all the ma
tions Of the world are discussing the
adoption of the Australian ballot system
people little realize that such IDEAS are
not as new as they seem. Wen nigh
six centuries ago in the city Of Florence
was organized system of voting resem-
bling in its essential principles the ballot
recently adopted. This is not mere hear
Say either, for historian who lived at
that time, Giovanni VILLAIN, has given as
a full account of it.
The city Of Florence had begun to tire
Of the arrogance and bribing methods Of
the mobiles about the year 1923, so it de-
cided to pass laws by which fair cleo
tons 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 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 a eoun-
Gil of 81 Of the principal officers and
"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 69 black beans
to elect a candidate. The counting was
done secretly in q neighboring room by
the monks, and the result was immedi-
ately announced 10 the assembly, who
proceeded to vote on the next name.
When the whole list had thus boen
gone through, all those who wero elect
ed had their names written together
on q large scroll and also each name
written separately ON a little slip These
little slips were thrown into bag. And
then comes a quaint custom. The large
scroll was kept in the sacristy of the
convent of the Frati Predicatori
The bags, one for each Office In the
government, were put In a strong chest
that was locked, and the three keys that
could open it were given, one to Frat
Conversi di Settimo, one to the capitano
or general Of the Florentine army and
one 20 the sacristan Of the Frati Minori
Thechest itself was stored in the sacristy
Of the latter monks.
It is seen how religiously all bribery
and ballot box stufilng was stopped. Nc
Elorentine, no matter how much he
hated the monks. would dare to commit
such crime IN the sacristy Of a church
He did not feel anxious to be burning n
a hell fire after he died. But to go OF
with the election, for as yet no Office,
had been elected, he had only been de
clared eligible to the Office.
When election time came around, tn
thirteenth day Of every other month, tn
priors, with the general council OF tn
people, would assemble and cause tn
; chest TO be brought forth. Then, In tn
presence Of tho entire assembly the bag
containing the slips were taken out, ant
after being carefully mixed one slip wa
taken out from each, and the psrsol
, whose name was on that slip was de
, clared elected. Thus an entirely ne'
? set of officers was chosen every time.
This mode Of election VILLAIN tells rs
twas ratified in a full parliament In tn
place Of the priors where many peOpl
were congregated and where man
speeches were made, praising the lay
!, and condemning to severe punishmer
I those who might oppose it." And yC
! we say socialism is essentially thing {
the present century. -Pittsburg ChrOn
1 ele-Telegraph.