New-York tribune., 1898-11-21
QUESTIONS OVER THE BALLOT

QUESTIONS OVER THE BALLOT.
DEsIRABILITY OF HAVING CANvAssERs FULLY
INSTRUCTED AS TO THEIR DUTIEa.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir In regard to the present Election law l beg
10 tender some suggestions. AS Republican inspec-
tor and canvasser | read with much interest pre-
yious to Election Day your statement respecting the
arguments often arising among canvassers in at
tempting interpret the probable intentions of
voters who fail strictly to comply with the letter
Of the law in marking ballots. AS it happened. a
most decided difference Of opinion in my dis
trict which nearly threatened TO delay the canvass
until daylight and for the following reason:
A ballot turned up with the cross placed under
the star but entirely outside the circle The Demo
cratic watcher demanded II should be counted. as
he claimed 1t plainly indicated the real intention OF
the voter and that similar ballots had been else
where counted for the party Indicated by the posi-
tion Of the cross under the emblem. The Republi-
can watchers strenuously opposed this claim, and
stated that the law specially directed that the cross
must be in the voting space or the ballot should
be thrown out Neither of the gentlemen however,
produced any official ruling to establish their re-
spective positions In the absence Of any official
direction felt inclined 10 give the voter the bene'
fit Of the doubt, and contrary to my brother Repub-
lican inspector. favored counting the same The
consequent strain was, however. happily relieved
by the acuteness of Republican lawyer present.
who discovered In the Election Code citation OF
a case In point which held that ballots upon which
the cross appeared outside the voting space must
not be counted. This. OF course settled the ques-
tion. and ! altered my opinion to conform to the
mandate which entirely sustained the contention or
the Republican watchers.
My experience is presumably but one OF many IL
Illustrating the fact that all such settled questions
as the one arising In my district should be explicit
" an@ la.nly stated in instructions to canvassers.
so as ~ exclude all preteXts for groundless asser-
iG a hs-r
that any time at all should be required 10 find in
the Election Code any adJudicated case In settle
OF Il dispute like the one In question Such,
however TO be the state OF affairs, ana so
long such elementary rules are placed In such a
way : require search at time when accuracy
and speed demanded. Improbable wranghng
will continue to prevail and unnecessary delay be
the consequence.
Notwithstanding this uncallcd-for episode, found
my brother inspectors OF both parties 10 De lntel-
gent, Well-meaning men, anxious only 10 DO ther
duty So far | know, the same spirit charac-
terized all the boards-at least, in my immediate
settled questions AS to canvasslng clearly ana con-
cisely sent Official instructions. Will be cheer
fully followed by all both 10 save time and unneces-
sal ~ labor and a a matter of duty.
In conclusion. ! cannot refrain from commenting
upon the superiority of the voters OF the Demo
cratic party their leaders" and their press
The incendiary talk OF their quondam ana possibly
present State leader" excited only smiles and the
Vaporings of the sensational papers-pictures and
all-had about much effect as provocative Of
disorder Mother Goose melodies. The Mexican
during the present decade. and sturdy men like Mr.
Nice ullagh and his deputies seeking TO prevent
dishonest voters from pursuing their nefarious
work are rightly appapdea 6y me dT2P9Rs OF
Eighth Election District. Ninth Ward
BROOKLYN, Nov. A. 1888