The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-13
RIVER AT s A. NJ.
NOTABLE CONTRAST.

rr,l,e elections held III two states IhlS
wear put into striking contrast the al
ferant working of election systems. we
have already commented on the calm
assurance with which everybody III
lHbo state Of New York looked forward
r. the freedom of the election from all
i+boee frauds and all that violence thal
orca diseraced the day and made men
hfeeI that lf-government was lmpos-
sible where population was dense anu
had men played for the high stakes Oh
governmental control. One has but TO
on hack TO the days of the Thugs and
Plug Tglies, with their rule OF terror
AT the polls, and compare these electloh
DAVIS with them to realize the immens-
,tv of the change. When the election
was held last Tuesday in that state
there was not only complete order, but
within a very few hours after the poiis
closed their verdict was announced
and accepted without question Inc
New Workers have profited by their
evnarience and have given themselves
the best election system of any state
in the country.
Not the least valuable provision IN
Il is the requirement for the destruc-
'+ion of all the ballots as soon as the
vote is counted and the returns COM
pleted and certified TO. All the appre-
tensions of fraud and injustice that
were felt when this provision was pro-
messed have vanished under the test OF
trial. 1t is to guard against possible
fraud, as we'll as against the liability
to error. that our law provides for the
preservation of the ballots and permits
a recount to be had. Under it's pro-
visions there have been many recounts
in contests for minor offices, butechang-
ing of the result has been so intrequent
that it may we'll be questioned whether
the correction of error in the few cases
cCmpensates for the agitation, the
doubt and the expense caused. 1t is
probable that the very fact that re-
view can be had makes the election
officers less vigilant and accurate, and
that the absence Of such provision
would increase not only their watch
fulncss and care, but also that of the
parties interested. Anyway, it works
we'll in New York, and it is very safe
assumption that any method that does
we'll there would do better elsewhere.
BUT in strong contrast with the af-
teInath of the election in the Empire
state is that of the Buckeye state. For
all The days of the week after the polls
closed there was doubt as to the re
suit Of the election for legislators, on
which would hinge the election of a
United States senator. The leaders of
each party were vigorous in their
claims, and each Immediately raised
the familiar old cry of fraud against
tie other Scare-heads in the papers
startled people with apprehension of
serious complications. Both interested
parties began preparations for a legal
battle. Returning boards trif1ed with
technicalities to change results to favor
the side on which their interests or
bias lay. For days the result in ten
counties was in doubt. Within twenty
four hours everybody knew the exact
result OF the election for legislators in
the state of New York, and there was
no challenge of the outcome. The con-
trast Is u striking one, and it points
q direction in which the legislators of
cur own state may protftably go in in
vestigation of the defects of our sys-
tenn and the places and manner in
which it can be bettered.