The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
SENATOR WICKHAM's ELECTION
BILL.

The bill amending the Walton law in
troduced by Senator Wickham is "A move
in the right direction. but 1t falls far
short of what is demanded by those who
insist that our laws shall secure 10 every
person entitled by the laws TO vote free
and unrestricted opportunity 70 cast hin
ballot as he wishes and 10 have it counted
as cast. whether he be literate or illiterate
The features of the bill. which retain the
principle of ths Australian ballot-the Sc
cluded booth, the crowd kept away from
The polling place. the official ballot-these
and others are good features that all the
people OF the State wish TO see retained.
The defect in the Walton law was its
want Of adequate provision for nliterato
voters making sure that they cast their
ballot according TO their wishes The
constable was never intended TO secure
the illiterate voter in his right. 1t was
intended to defeat him Of his right. Sen
ator Wickham's bill wisely abolishes the
constable. but tho provisions it makes for
the aid Of the illiterate voters are wholly
inadequate. Those provisions are de-
posit of one copy presumably only one
copy Of the official ballot for some time
with The clerk of the county court, which
all men may inspect. and permission TO
one voter TO accompany one initerate
voter into the booth to mark his ballot
for him. These provisions fan utterly
short OF the necessities of the case. The
bin as drawn leaves IL entirely uncertain
how long the copy of the ballot will be
deposited with tho clerk. as it cannot be
deposited before it is printed. and the
electoral board may print it on any day
within thirty days OF the election that
suits them. The copy for the clerk might
not be with him. therefore, six hours be-
fore the election In such "A case II would.
Of course. De impossible for any practical
service to come out Of such deposit. This
could. Of course. be easily cured by
amendment but IL the ballot should be
with the clerk whole year it would en-
tirely fail to answer the needs Of the
case. Not one iliterate voter In one hun
dred would 30 TO the courthouse to ex-
anime the ballot, and such as did would
be embarrassed by their nliteracy and
would be most diffident in making in
auiries The provision would be a dead
failure so far as being an object lesson to
the voter himself went. A candidate for
Office might. OF course, inspect this copy
and give information from tt to the hit
crate voters. but that would be a most
uncertain method for requiring voters 20
rest their rights upon.
AS for the provision allowing one voter
10 accompany one other voter, but no
more. into the booth. but little practical
result would flow from that. Many iIit-
crate voters would necessarily fail to find
acqnaintances at the polls who could read
VINO had not already g2ne in with one
voter
The ballot system adopted by the States
OF New York and Maryland. and perhaps
by other States. Is the only one which
makes an iliterate voter secure OF his
rights. and We should make ours conform
10 that. The most important feature OF
that system il the one which requires a
copy OF the official ballot to be kept post
ed one day at the polls. where the hitter
ate voters can study II with literate
friends. who can point out TO them the
places on the ballot TO mark.
We should abolish the constables adopt
the Maryland ballot. having emblems for
different parties. have II posted all day
at the polls. and allow any voter TO show
his ballot TO the judges II he chooses and
ask them II IL is rightly marked.
The people OF Virginia want perfectly
fair elections. and they win not be con-
tented with anything short of them.
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CARL sCHURz ON CIVIL SERVICE.
The Hon. Carl Schurz has filled many |