New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-26
THE KENTUCKY PLAN.

While reform Of the primary laws Is being
discussed and various plans are being put for
ward to secure to voters the control OF the
nominating machinery of their respective par
ties, II Is profitable to consider what has been
done elsewhere to solve the problem that con-
fronts the people Of New-York. Prominent
among the States which have devised primary
system that meets present conditions and needs
is Kentucky. Some Of the provisions Of its law
might perhaps be put in operation here. Ger
tainiy they can be proftably studied by those
who wish to avoid experiments In SO important
a field Of legislation.
The Kentucky system Is the work or both
political parties. and 1t has been shown by five
wears experience to be practical and salts
factory to the great body Of citizens. All pri-
mary elections Of the different parties are con-
Quoted In the same manner and under the same
regulations and penalties as State election.
All officers are sworn, and any fraud In the
counting Of votes or recording of names IS pun
ishable the same as an election fraud When
party desires to hold primary election IT is
required to give forty days notice by posting
at certain conspicuous points CALL stating the
day and hours and places at which the polls
will be open and the offices for which candi-
dates are TO be nominated. At those polling
places the State guarantees every member or
the party as complete right TO vote, free from
intimidation, as IL does at its own election
And to secure for him this right and protect 1t
from invasion by members Of any other party 1t
has established system Of party registration in
all towns where regular registration Is re-
| uuired II, as in this State registration was
universal. then the party registration would be
| universal
In the regular registration books column is
reserved In which is entered the party atiilia-
ton Of each elector who desires to declare II.
! The Judges ask each man. IL he wishes to re-
main neutral he may do so. II not, his name
| is put In his party list and for that year he
| has a certain voice in the party management.
Thus each party has its roll made up Of actual
voters and cleared each year Of dead names,
and as q person cannot get his name on the
roll Of two parties there Is no possibility Of the
practice. SO familiar here, of borrowing men
from the opposition to carry caucuses. The
party lists are protected against alteration or
mutation under heavy penalties, and party
officials are likewise held 10 strict accounta-
bilIty for the correctness Of their copies. The
lists are public and may be investigated by
anybody.
When the voter comes to the scene Of pri-
mary election he is protected from ali annoy
ance The ballots are OF uniform character
printed under government authority at the e1'
pense Of the party organization, and no cleo
pioneering is allowed within fifty feet Of the
polls The ballots are distributed at the polling
place and 1t is a felony to remove from the
electionroom or have outside 1t either genu-
inc or counterfeit ballot while the election Is
going on. Marking ballots for identification Is
also criminal, and bribery at primary Is pun.
ishable the same as bribery at a general cleo
ton The count Is safeguarded by law, and
the general operation Of the system has been to
secure TO the members OF party free choice
Of candidates and 10 protect the party ma
chInery from boss domination.