The herald., 1894-09-09
THE BALLOT CONVENTION
ANOTHER FEATURE OF AUSTRAL-
IAN METHODS.
HOW They Manage Primaries and eau
cuses in tbs Laad of the Kan
CARGO and Boome-
rang.
A citizen writes to the HERALD az fol-

A citizen writes to the HERALD az fol-
lows:
California has taken long step for
ward In the publication oil the ballot
box by adopting the Australian ballot.
Why not apply the same system to the
primary election and the nominating
conventions and thus purify the source
OF all political corruption?
For instance. a primary election can
be called as it is under the present plan,
only the Australian ballot can be used.
Prior to the primary q caucus can be
held for the nomination OF ticket. Each
candidate can be assessed a certain sum
to raise funds to bear the expense of the
election. 1t could also be provided that
any member Of the party, who was
voter in the ward where the primary
was to be held, could become o candi-
date for delegate by depositing with cleo.
ton officers the sum agreed upon, thus
insuring the printing of his name with
other names on the printed ballot.
The tickets can be printed and the
election held as nearly as practicable
under the rules governing elections
under our Australian system. The great
register can be used as now, and none
but members of the party can be allowed
to vote.
This system insurss an absolute secret
ballot and the honest opinions of the
voters can be obtained without being
Influenced by outside or corrupt inhu-
ences.
This system can be used in all incor-
porated cities and towns. OF course it
would not be practicable for use in the
country, where there are only a few
voters, but it can be made applicable to
all preoincts where there is sufficient
number OF voters, cay 100 or 200.
The convention assemblies as per call
and organizes In the usual IA amer
Alter it's organization an opportunity is
given for all who deaire to become can
didates before the convention to file
their applications and deposit their fee
of So. There is then printed ballot
containing the names OF all the candi-
dates, and an election 10 held under the
Australian system. The list of delegates
ia used by the election officers, instead OF
the great register. When all have
voted the votes are oanvassed and the
result is announced. Whenever any
candidate has a clear majority OF all ths
votes cast, euch candidate ia declared
the nominee. A new ticket is then
printed containing the names OF all can
didstes for phsitions where there was no
choice on the frat ballot, and second
election ia held. This voting continues
until the ticket is completed. In order
to prevent long contests, it might be
deemed advisable to drop the lowest
candidate on each subsequent ballot.
There would be under this system no
long nominating speeches. the work OF
the convention would be narrowed down
to Enthusiastically business.
There could also be no trading. Zach
man would be nominated on his merits.
There might be mutual understanding
between delegates that they would sup
port certain candidates; but such work
could not extend to corruption, because
there would be no assurance that such
compact or agreement would be kept by
the parties interested.
Voters could not be bought in the con-
vention with coin or promises OF posi-
tions because OF the inability of the
parties to furnish evidence OF having
carried out the contract.
This SCENE to be more practical way
OF uuppressing corruption and the in
t1uencs OF corrupt political bossess than
the Ooetal primary plan.
This system could be made applicable
to large cities. and tbs not needed in the
spareely settled country.
1t could be used to advantage in
county and city ana state conventions
and it is not needed in emaller cenvsn-
tions for the nominating OF township
officers, or where only one candidate ia
to be placed before the people, such as
CONGREGATIONAL railrAod hlry
atorial district conventions.
In order to adopt such plan a state
law would be necessary, and the man
who will perfect such a plan and pass it
through the legislature next winter and
place it upon our statute books will be
a benefactor of mankind.
The greatest danger that now threat
ems the stability of American institu-
tions is the corruption of politics in our
large cities and the influence of corrupt
political bosses in debating to the peo-
Pile for whom they shall vote. controlling
al parties so that man is compelled to
either vote for bad man for some of
the Offices or not vote at all.
1t ia urged that this corruption could
be remedied if the honeet voters would
attend the primaries. This is not true,
because the honest voters will not etoop
to the dishonest and corrupt practices
which corrupt bosses use to accomplish
their designs. Then again, the honest
voters are not organized gnd cannot or
ganze as solidly as the men who are
active in political matters for revenue
only.
This Australian system, however, ap-
piled to the primaries and the conven-
tions will thwart ths designs OF corrupt
man and will dn mora ~ r,,.;fv o,
politics than any other system that has
ever been suggested. It ia ct least
worthy OF trial.
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