Middletown transcript., 1896-11-14
AUSTRIAN BALLOT Law.

the leading citizens of Kent county,
wrote the "Delawarean" last Saturday
the following letter in reference to
the ballot and registry laws Of the
State. It merit thoughtful consider
alton:
| Mr.. EDIToR:-The battle Of the
ballots has been fought to a conclu-
sion and it has left in its wake an un-
usual number of ducks and the defeat
is enough without casting any epithets
of derision, and as the result has been
accomplished with the aid of Demo-
Gratis, temperance men and others, we
hope that there will be no demonstra-
tions made calculated to wound the
feelings Of anyone. For my own part
I feel thankful that a threatened Ca
lamity that I feared would be subver-
sive of good government has been
averted and feel no disposition to crow
over the defeat of others that
thought differently. Free silver was
not the only thing in the Chicago plat
form dreaded.
The battle, however is now over and
the yictors now have facing them re-
forms In both National and State Gov :
ernment commanding their attention.
You areoccupying position as jour
nalist through which you can WELD a
greater influence in favor of good laws
than half dozen members of the Leg
islature. I would therefore, respect
fully solicit your aid and influence for
the abolition of the cumbersome, in
convenient and perplexing blanket
sheet tickets, and a substitute of the
old time ticket of our forefathers with
some modification. A voter could
place a half dozen Of them in his vest
pocket and have room left, But the
present blanket tickets in. some cases
require dry goods box to accommodate
the inspectors. -
Both the ballot law and the registry
law need modifying, and while making
no claim of being learned In law,
would with your permission offer a
few suggestions. would respectfully
suggest that the ticket be Of old style,
except being printed on paper of diff
ferent colors as in the Myers System,
blue for the Democrats, red for the Re.
publicans and other colors for those
that may have party candidates to be
voted for. To make the ballot secret
this would Of course require an envel-
ope (which may be small and cheap,)
without this the election officers and
any others that may be permitted to be
in the room could see how each voter
cast his vote.
The tickets Of all parties having can
didates in the field should be placed in
each booth, with stickers enough of all
to accommodate all that
may wish to change their tickets. One
chief advantage of this system would
be that the uneducated man though he
could not read syllable or his own
name, could select at a glance the ticket
Of the party which he aff1liates and
which be votes; having selected his
ticket in private places it in the envel-
ope. No one can know for certainty
how he votes. This would be abso
lutely secret ballot and would ac-
complish all that can be done 10 that
line for the suppression Of bribery.
You know that we have reason to |
believe that the present ballot is no re-
straint whatever against bribery, for |
It is q notorious fact that there has |
been much more bribery under the |
present law than ever before. Indeed |
IL it had been designed in the interest |
Of bribery it would not have been bet |
ter adapted to the purpose. For in
stance, John Smith Republican, bar
ters with John Brown, a Democrat, to
vote the Republican ticket for stipu-
lated sum. Smith tells John Jones,
another Republican. to 60 into the
polling room with John Brown and
,ee that he votes the Republican ticket;
If course Brown wants his ticket
and calls on the Republican
voters assistant to change his vote.
That settles it and Jones says to Smith
Ill right and this can be continued all
lay If the funds hold out.
This abomination has grown until
,ur State is byword and reproach as
he most corrupt State in the Union.
ind the Democratic party must not
put on cloak of purity and say that I
I'm holier than they. They could beat
he Republicans every time until the
7as King came in with his money bags
% debauch voters for purely selfish
'nds. I see no way of further checking |
his evil only itbe done by disfranchising
very voter that can be convicted Of
elling his vote. and disquality the
,uyers from holding any Office. If
sw convictions of that kind could be
made it would go far toward suppress
ling the evil.
I am now near the close of my niIe-
ieth year and have never bought q vote
lirectly or furnished funds knowingly |
or that purpose. II paying mems
axes at the polls is buying votes I
must plead guilty. I really have my
loubts about the propriety Of doing
hat, for man that has not suficient