The record-union., 1898-11-28
THE REFORM OF THE BALLOT.

AAA4G h-k1tG lS SAIltlIS UluClA AhtOlNCA
and enlisting in its discussion the press
generally. The San Francisco "Chron-
icle'' sustains the position taken by the
Record Union from the outset, years
ago, namely, that the names of party
nominees should appear upon the bal
lot in party columns, with a designa-
ton heading for each. This is the
form of the ballot in Indiana, Iowa and
some other States, and in such States
its use is satisfactory.
The majority of the press now agrees
with this position, but there are some
holding to the contrary, the leader of
Times" It's argument in brief lis
that the grouping of nominees by party
classification will prove advantageous
to sub bosses and the buyers and SELL
ticians all favor the new adjustment
for the reason that it enables the pur-
chasable gang to more easily deliver
the goods.
AZ SOAASCAbAOh - tAleib LAAC dAPAdOCtl-
cal grouping of candidates under posi-
ton titles with party designations ap-
pended to each name, requires Of the
voter intelligent examination of and
search through the ballot, and since
there is no heading by which he can
vote a ticket straight, he is compelled
to exercise his Judgment in the matter
and to pass upon each group of candi-
dates in succession. The present form,
according to the Times" is perfect:
It affords an ideal method by which
the. independent voter can express his
wishes, and at the same time it COM
pels the careless voter to inspect his
ballot more carefully than he would
otherwise be obliged to do. Every
voter should at least know the names
Of the candidates for whom he votes.
But If the voter be permitted to vote
for them in a lunp-a job lot, so to
speak-in many cases he will not take
the pains to inform himself as to the
personnel Of the ticket which he votes,
and will not even know the names of
all the men he votes for.
AAC cA1oNCl " e1ll LINES Is lEdl the
law cannot advance the intelligence of
the voter nor compel discrimination and
the exercise of wise judgment by any
processes it may provide. The elector
who goes into the polling booth re-
solved to debase his ballot, complete the
deal made, and deliver the goods, will
not be restrained from so doing by the
ballot form. Nor is it thinkable that
the form of the ballot will compel any
one to give study to the claims and
qualifications of candidates. All that is
done, if at ALL long before the voter
enters the voting booth Even If dis
posed to there profoundly study the
matter, the time allotted is and must
remain insufficient for any such pur-
pose.
But it will be we'll for the "Times"
to consider the important fact that
grouping by party columns in no wise
prevents or hinders the study of the
several nominees names. While the
nominations will appear in columns
according to party, yet the several coll
umns will stand abreast, so that the
voter will find all the nominees for a
given Office upon a horizontal line run
ming across the whole face of the
ballot, instead of in vertical lines as
under the present system. So, then
there will be no more difficulty in as
certaining who the candidates are, and
IN considering their fitness, in the one
case than in the other.
AS to the straight voting, we take IL
that 1t will prove a distinct advantage
1t will facilitate the election in the
matter Of time saving. It will prevent
blundering now so common. It will
enable the stalwart party man to vote
the entire ticket by making a single
mark in the square opposite the party
designation. At the same time, If the
voter is disposed to divide his favor
and distribute his markings over the
ballot, he can do so in the, one case just
| as easily as in the other. Perhaps under
the vertical column and party group
ing system he can do so with least lia-
bility to error, since he will not mistake
the designations used to indicate the
politics of the nominees, nor by mad
vertence or nervousness place the
stamp opposite a name his Judgment
has not fixed upon.
Under the present system when Cle
voter reaches, say the group of nom
inees for Secretary of State. he finds
four, five or six names in alphabetical
| arrangement, one over the other. and
close together. From among these he
must choose one. In the proposed bal
lot arrangement he will find the six
names on a common horizontal line
but each well separated from the other
and each in its own party column dis
tinctly designated by the heading and
party design.
As a matter of fact something like
so per cent. of the electors who go tc
the polls vote straight, adhering te
party nominations throughout. II
follows, therefore, that by the party
column arrangement the larger body
of voters will be accommodated and
voting by that much quickened. If ar
elector desires to vote a straight ticket
what gain is there to purity Of the bal
lot in compelling him to pick out his
party. nominees from among host o.
others massed In perpendicular col
u1nn? What benefit is derived from 6
method which tends to- prevent fret
expression by strict party voters.