The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1896-01-04


esstem allows each voter to reject M
rsnd!date" and write new na@ss'upon his
1t is objected, also, t4st By retiGI;;EE;;asss
the blind to expose their vote TO election
officers, secrecy of the ballot is, as to
them, violated. Under our present sys-
tenn voting is not secret; It was; Tor tnat
reason; rejected by the British par''a'
This Object, nov, is to secure secfeey, but
In aiming at that Ne afR eouftcptcd with
class of voters to whom exposufe Of
their ballots to somebody is necessary,
favor to prevent their disfra nch isement.
What form which shall be consistent with
the highest degree Of secrecS can that *.
sspIti9n take? If allowed to carry their
bitt0ts dWaF, these voters full into the
hands of irresponsible and ::efhapa dis
honest persons, and may be made, limo
Gently or otherwise, instruments for per-
petrating some form of the "Tasmanian
dodge" If, for their benefit, official bal
lots are generally circulated all efforts for
secrecy are frustrated. Aid f they are
permitted to take ''friend' into the
booth ii door i. opened for the bribery Of
fully pretend to be, unable to read En-
! glish. Exposure of ballots must be pre-
vented by every means that ingenuity
1ni1 suggest: but in exceptional eases III
which it cannot be avoided, it may most
safely be confided to election officers, who
represent opposing parties, are under oath
| of secrecy and fidelity, can be readily de-
terteti In mnlfeasanc", and when detected
are liable to severe penalties. As to
| blind voters, this seems to be the only
course.
There ~ reason to believe that the
| Auhtta1iah SYSTEM Of totiEz rs about to
receive favorable consideration in all the
| States where election abuses have been
seriously felt but its adoption would 50
| surely dispense with machine organiza-
| tions that there is also reason to fear At
| fio1 fop inri
are likely to be in the direction of allow
ing the delivery of ballots to parties and
! candidates before election, and distribu'
ton we'll by "workcrs'' at any time or
| place as by sworn officers at the polls.
| A little thought will show that this would
continue the power of political machines
| and endnnger secrecy. Any such modlh'
ca ton no intelligent and sincere advocate
| of electoral reform can accept, for in this
| matter it is not true at this time that
half loaf is better than no bread
1t were better that the reform be de-
layed, with the force of public opinion
pressing it forward, than that inefficient
measures should allay public opinion by
seeming to meet its demands. Details
may be compromised, but essentials must
be required Mt every step in the aslta-
ton. These are, that ballots containing
the names of all candidates he printed at
public EXPENSE; that one official ballot
or set of ballots be delivered by sworn Of
ficcrs to each voter as he appears to vote
that the voter be Immediately secluded for
the purpose of preparing to vote; that he
deliver his ballot to the inspectors sc
folded as to conceal its face and expose
the official Endorsement; that iumediatcl!
after voting he withdraw from the seclud
cd part of the polling place; that there
be no intercourse with him except bJ
election officers for official purposes from
the time he receives his ballot until hi
votes, and that voter be allowed tt
cast any ballot but the one he receive:
) from the election officers. 1t is also es
; sential that the ballots be arranged "a.
above) by Offices, and not in "strniGh
tickets.' for. as straight ticket can b.
voted in much less time than one in which
= the separate candidates marked b,
the voter. Il watcher on the outside IS en-
abled to tell how a voter has cast his bal
lot if q chance is afforded to vot
'straieht.''
Ballot Reform League Office.
New No. 210 Camp ST., New Orleans.