Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-12-21
THE LAW ALL RIGHT.
:. IF. Examiner.

1t mas COluC w 0eol S
with which the people accustomed
themselves to the new conditions.
and the universal admission that
il secures secret voting, has settled
SO much. But they are now to
the fore with suggestions for amend
ing the law to recover Tor the
machine some of the power 1t lost
when the official ballot was adopt
ed. The fact that nearly 1000
voters of this city did not vote for
mayor, that over 1900 did not vote
for governor, and that still greater
numbers neglected certain less i'm
portant offices is made the ground
for urging that the legislature
amend the law to provide for
straight voting" by printing the
party ticket III parallel columns
and allowing the voter to stamp
single cross for straight ticket.
A study of the returns does not
show need for any such provision.
On the contrary, it proves that the
people are willing to make up their
own tickets, and would be discom-
moded'instead of helped in making
choice by separating the candl-
dates for vorious offices by putting
them under a party heading in
stead of under the heading Of the
office for which they are running.
The voters of San Francisco
showed the most conscientious
spirit in their voting. They went
through the list Of nearly four
hundred candidates with care
that could not have been expected.
Even on school directors there
were nearly 100000 crosses stamp
ed. If every man who expressed a
choice at all on school director
voted for twelve this would mean
that over 10000 voters made a
choice on this office AS many did
not vote for the full number it is
pretty certain that above $4,000
voters stamped their choice for the
school board. Over $4,000 crosses
we're marked for free holders-an
Office in which few are supposed to
feel an interest. Ii every voter
who had choice among candidates
voted for the full number of fifteen
this means that over 30, 600 voters
expressed their choice on this office.
But as many voted for less than
the full number it is probable that
over $4,000 voters took part in Sc
lecting these officials. The system
it is plain puts the choice of Off
cials on those who feel an enterest
in the office. Those who do not
care who is elected governor pass
the Office in voting.
The theory on which straight
tickets are sometimes given the
preference Oh ballots is that the
people do not have the interest OF
intelligence to pick out officials fol
themselves, and turn this duty
over to the various conventions
The voters then decide which con.
vention did its work most to theil
satisfaction. This arrangement may
be necessary in some places, but
not in San Francisco. 1t is The
testimony of the election officers
that there were few straight tickets
voted in the late election. In som'
of the precincts there were not fv'
straight party tickets found during
the whole count. 1t is probable
that not 10000 out of the 81 ,O0C
ballots cast had straight part,
tickets stamped on them.
When this is the case it is alb
surd to say that straight ticket
should be favored by the law. Th
present arrangement puts .ogethe
all the candidates for each office
and the voter has only to folloN
them down and stamp his choie
at each. Under the party column
arrangement the $4,000 voters VIII
want to vote mixed ticket woul
have to hunt all over the ballot I
find their men-and thus save th
10000 straight voters" the troubl
of going once through the list.
The ballot law is all right. Th
only trouble is in the count. 1t
undoubtedly desirable to lesse
the labors Of the voters and tn
size Of the ballot by cutting dow
the number of offces--a measul
that would also shorten the tim
of the count. But the arrangemer
of the names on the ballot is tt
best that can be had, and the legi
lature should keep its hands 9
that part of the law.
~
1t is the belief of the world tn;
wheat has reached its lowest poin
and that in future it will be highe