The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-07
BALLOT MACHINES.

The first reports which came of the re-
suits of voting by ballot machines seem to
have been altogether too favorable. Ad-
verse criticism is now be ing pronounced
on the subject and there is abundant evil
dence compiled by Public Opinion to show
that neither of the machines tried at the
last election is at ali satisfactory.
1t is stated the Myers Company have
been obliged to set about devising changes
in the doors and outside casing of their
machine, while the McTammany Com
pany recognize that theirs does not count
we'll and are arranging to improve the de-
feet. Both machines seem to have occa-
stoned the loss of a considerable number
OF votes during the election, and it is on
that ground the main objections to them
are based.
The Providence Journal in giving an ac-
count of the operation of the machine used
in Massachusetts says: "a former Judge
of Worcester entered and issued forth
from the McTammany cage without vot-
ing. On taking the oath provided for such
emergencies he was permitted to try
again." If citizen of such intelligence
as Judge may be presumed to be could
not operate the machine it is fair to as
sumo that a considerable nun Der of 9TH
ers have tried it and failed also.
The u tica Herald refers to the fact that
upward of 200 voters in a single precinct
in Rochester where the Myers machine
was tried lost their votes, and very Justly
says: sit would have been hardly posi-
bic to cast 200 detective blanket ballots.
Even if it were, the fault would have been
that of the voters. In the case, however,
of a man who touches knob that fails to
record his vote the fault rests wholly with
the machine"
The general conclusion of the press in
the East upon the subject, where all the ex-
periments were watched with close atten-
ton, is fairly well expressed in the state
ment of the New York Tribune that the
voting machine is not yet practical sue
cess. OF the various leading machines ex-
perimented with it says: "Not one appar-
emily stood the required test. All proved
more or less un satisfactory, and the i'm
PROJECTIONS in most instances were of a
serious character"
That each OF the machines tried has
some merit is beyond question, but q
DalIoting machine ought not to be adopted
unless it is SO perfect that it will unfail-
ingly record every vote that is given. 1t
will not do to trust the franchise of citi-
zens to machines that are not certain to
register the votes. 1t is asserted with the
Myers machine that in one precinct six
teen ballots had been cast before the ma
chine registered at all. These men were
clearly disfranchised through no fault OF
their own, and the machine to that extent
was actually fraud upon the voters.
1t is fairly certain some effort will be
made during the session of the Legisla-
ture this winter to provide for machine
balloting in this State. 1t will, therefore,
be well for the people to be on their guard
in the matter. The election of officials is
too important to be left to the hazard of
mere experiment, and if we are TO have
any such thing as a voting machine
adopted for use in this State great care
should be taken to see to it that it is
something more than an experiment and
will unfailingly register accurately the
vote of every citizen.