The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-12-06
Tho Australian Ballot.
GpnENv111E SC M

GREENVILLE, 3. u, NOV. 50, 1878.
TO the Editor of the Greeeuitle NeWs:
AS bill Is to be introduced in the Legis-
ialure on the Australian ballot, and the
subject is becoming one of general inter-
est, I suppose its discussion will not be
Objectionable in your columns. II may
be that there are people who do not
understand the system, and that brief
explanation would be in order.
It was first introduced in South Aus
tralia in 1857 as remedy for the gross
abuses that had grown up under the
general election system. The beneficial
results soon became so apparent that the
movement spread to Europe, Canada and
the United States. The first adoption in
the United States was by Massachusetts in
1888. The legislatures of Indiana, Mon
| tana, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Tennes-
| see, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Con-
| necticut and other States have passed
new election laws. more or less resem-
! bling the Australian system. The city
of Louisville, Kentucky, has also adopt
| ed this system. It is said that in every
place where it has been tried it has prov
ed successful, and that there has been no
| disposition for its repeal. It's object is to
| secure pure, fair and orderly elections,
and the plan is to require secrecy Of bal
lot, and to prevent intimidation,
bribery or any other influence upon the
voter.
The details are different in differ
ent States, but the general plan is as fol-
lows:
Booths arc arranged at each polling
place in which only one voter Is allowed
to enter at a time to prepare and deposit
his ballot in secret. The names of all the
candidates of all the parties sre printed
on the same ticket, prepared at public
expense, and all the voter has to do is to
make his cross in the blank opposite the
name of the candidate for whom he de-
sires to vote. He then places his ticket In
the box in the presence Of manager,
having done all in private with hone to
molest.
The advantages of the system are that
] it knocks money out Gs factor In poll
tics, as no man will pay money fer vote
that he cannot see delivered, and thus
the poor candidate is put on an equal
footing with the rich one; that 1t trees
the voter from the annoying influence of
coercion, solicitation or intimidation,
and enables him to vote according to the
dictates of his own conscience; that 1t se-
cures peace and order at the polls by
doing away with bargaining and trad
ing that generally create most of the tur-
bulence.
Now, why not adopt this Australian
system in South Carolina? Surely the
white people Of the State, as race, are
not afraid OF tho educational test involv-
i ed, for, if understand Alright, they have
already endorsed by their votes in the
last campaign the idea of an educational
or property qualification. But IT any
persons entertain fears on this score let
Them examine the statistics as to The rel
alive. proportion of illiteraoy In the State
and their fears will be dispelled. The
fact Is, the Australian ballot will efectu.
ally prevent any independent rarty OF
Organization from buying up and using
the Negro vote, and, therefore, these who
fear Negro domination as result Of di-
4 vision Of the whites ought to be the fore
i most in advocacy of the plan, for the
whites are already divided and the divis-
ion threatens to be permanent. Now,
Mr.. Editor, I do not expect the legisla.
ture to pass the Australian ballot bill
which is to come up before it, nor do ]
expect politicians and Office seekers to
favor the measure. am not writing fol
these, but for the quiet and thoughtful
people who want no Office, but only de-
Sire good government. In such alone
rests the hope ofany reform whatever. i
these people would unite and organize
ballot reform societies all over the State
1 their power would be-. felt, and, In due
time, their measure would win and oul
politics be purified. N.