The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-01

or the other, at once. Mr.. Cudworth was
present, would explain his proposition,
and, accordingly. he would introduce Mr..
CudWorth, which he did The latter
said:
''Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the City
Council: One hundred or more years
ago, in this country, our forefathers
voted viva voce at town meetings and
other elections In England they voted
by a show of hands at the foot of the
hastings. Members of parliament were
returned or defeated by this primitive
system. Years afterwards, in the United
States, began to vote by tickets
Wing, Democratic, Federal, Know-Noth-
ing and Republican tickets, with the
name of the party printed in bold-faced
type across the top Let me be honest
with you, gentlemen, and say that a
great deal of fraud against the ballot
box was perpetrated by this perniclous
system of voting. 1t is true that the
machine politician the astute expo
nent of practical politics, was a warm
friend of this system. He is yet, and
would be glad to return to 1t today. But
what are known as 'reformers' in politics
devised a modification of the Australian
system of ballots and bailoting, and
mainly through their efforts secured its
adoption in a large number of states. 1t
is the system in vogue in this state.
But it Is unsatisfactory. 1t is clumsy.
bungling and complicated. Exasperating
delay in the count is one Objectionable
incident. Quite often the intention OF
the voter is so obscured by his marking
that his vote is thrown out and himself
disfranchised. 1t gives rise to innumer-
able contests and expensive litigation.
You, gentlemen, know this to be true in
the past Have you the right to expect
Improvement in the future? You would
like something better. | am here for the
purpose of introducing something FAR
and away ahead Of any other system
Those of you who attended the Worlds
fair doubtless saw number OF patented
voting machines in action. 1 represent
the firm that manufactures what we con-
slider the best of these machines. At
nv hotel there Is one on exhibition, to
which | invite your close inspection. L
do not ask you to take any decisive &C
ton tonight. If | have awakened an in
terest in the matter my preliminary OBJ
iect is accomplished. In the seven wards
of your beautiful city you have twenty
three voting precincts. If you will call,
by committee or otherwise, at the Hotel
Gilroy 1 will furnish you with descriptive
circulars testimonials from Rochester,
New York and other cities which are
using our machines, together with net
price f. 0. b. Gentlemen, l thank you for
your attention"
Then Mr. Cudworth sat down. Six al
C!crmen rose simultaneously, ana one WAS
recognized by the mayor presiding. The
council meeting closed with the pas
sage Of a resolution to inspect TIE voting
machine on the following Monday
The residence of Mayor Kingston i,
| one of the most attractive mansions In
Crawford nder the circumstances; it
! was not at all surprising that a. O'Clock
| Sunday afternoon the yellowgeareo cart
containing Mr.. Jones Cudworth and the
lot:le- green tiger should have Appeared
in front of the Kingston pl@c, l:ur that
Mr.. Cudwcrth himself should have step
ped out on to the horse block in re-
Spouse to All inv itation from tic mayor
! tt dire with him. The bottle-grcen tiger
WAS instructed to return at p. III. IN
! another minute Mr.. Jones CuLwC rth was
| acknowledging the kindly welcome of
Mayor and Mrs. Kingston, and Miss Ma
bel Kingston, aged nineteen.
| Dinner was followed by smoke duet.
| in the library by the mayor and Mr..
| Cudworth And what more likely topic
| Of conversation than the merits of vot-
! ing machineso To Mr.. Cudworth the
| mayor talked frankly and to the follow
| ing effect:
! 81 believe it will be impossible to pass
a resolution through the council to pur-
| chase voting machines. Here is the sit
! uation. There are seven Democratic and
| seven Republican aldermen I am -
Democrat, and was elected in seasa
| tionai finish by just three plurality over