The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-15
Right OF Suffrage.

One OF the most important duties de-
volving upon you as legislators II the
amendment Of the election laws of the
state. The legislature OF 1891 very wisely
adopted the Australian ballot system and
II has undoubtedly had An apprecdable
effect In purifying our elections. Expert
ence In the use OF the Australian system
suggests many improvements which will
have n tendency to render the ~perpetra-
tton OF frauds stall mora difficult and
give additional profession to the voter In
the exercise Of his right Of franchise.
FORM OF BALLOT.
I heartily approve the general form OF
our ballot and believe II to be vastly
preferable to the so-called blanket" bal
lot system. In which the party tickets
are each printed in separate columns.
with provisions generally by whaoh the
elector can vote the entire ticket BY one
mark or stamp. The independence Of the
voter II encouraged by our system which
leads him usually to read the names Of
tho candidates for the various oflcos be-
fore casting his ballot, and ne 10 sncour-
aged thereby not to rely solely upon party
designation. II has been urged by some
as on objection to the form Of our ballot
that II Is in effect the establishment Of
an educational test for voting. ] DO not
regard his as q very serious objection.
The voter hAs become accustomed 70 this
form of ballot. and any marked change
rs NeS Aos ~ hA AbS ~ - yJii-
tirely unnecessary and you'd serve no
good purpose.
PARTY DESIGNATIONS.
Other objections. however. and moro
substantial which I regard moro the result
OF abuses than Of the law itself and which
AZ an instance. William J. Bryan was
nominated by the democratic party for
the presidency. .Afterward no was also
nominate by the peoples party for pres
ident. A convention Of dissatisfied demo-
Gratis met later and, styling themselves
national democrats" nominated John M.
Palmer for president. The candidates
placed In nomination by the Palmer wing
Tor electors. AS we'll Hs for state officers,
were de,ominated on the Official ballot in
Nebraska a. democrats" with no means
of distinguishing them from the regular
democratic nominees. The result of such
a course was necessarily the deception
Of many voters. I would respectfully
recommend that such amendments be
made to the law ~ would prevent the
use OF the party designation by boiling
factions Tor the purpose of deoeiving vot-
ers. The regular party nominees only
should appear OF tho Official ballot with
the designation OF the party which nomi-
mated them. Where one candidate has
been nominated by more than one politi-
cal party the party designations should
be so arranged az to permit the eleotor
". WIN Aa9 0A kIOASA
ence AS we'll a. his preference for the
candidate. Protection should be secured
to the voter who. ~unacquainted with the
names OF all the nominees on tina ticket,
Is DESTROYS OF casting his ballot for the
nominees OF the party he ~espouseo
ELECTION BOARD
I would also suggest that each party
having u fair proportion of thu electors
In the state be given representation on
the precinct ele,ticn boards. and that
no moro b two members OF any ona
political organization be male Judges In
any election precinct. The represents
tivcs OF no one political organization
should have entire control Of any election
booth. and. where competent men repre-
sentins different political parties can 10
secured, the result must be more salts
faGtory to all concerned.
l believe this matter mlRht b satis-
factoriiy arranged by vesting the power
OF naming tho judges and clerks Of cleo
ton In the county clerks or boards OF
county commissioners land the mayors
OF cities of the FIRST and second ciasses),
restricting them to n choice from Lists
furnished by the chairman OF h county
Tor city) committees Of the various poait-
lcal parties. Provtsi~1 could be made
allowing at least one representative on thu
election board to each political party re-
ceivinR q certain percentage Of votes cast
at the last general - ,tion held In the
state. and providing that. In no event.
should any n party have to exceed