Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-26
TWELVE PAGES.
TUESDAY, JUNE 90. 1900.
VIVA vOcE VOTING.

The Petersburg Index-Appeal most
pleasant newspaper to controvert,
thinks the Virginian-Pilot is cynical at
the expense of it's proposition that the
vivn voce system OF voting be rein
stated in the Constitution of Virginia
Not bit of 1T. The viva voce system
has many and undoubted merits, all
of which our contemporary very we'll
sets forth. 1t Is indeed possessed OF
"franlness, simplicity and honesty"
That 1t also has efficiency" is some
thing that 1t does not seem to us pos
Gible to determine off-hand. We should
even so the length of saying that what
was a thoroughly efficient method of
ascertainng the popular will thirty
years ago might be n lamentable fail
ure to-day.
In simple state OF society where
nearly every suffragist is possessed OF
an independent means of making q liv-
Ing; in purely agricultural commu-
nifty, for example. the viva voce system
OF voting would no doubt work admira-
bly,. If, on the other hand. all men were
willing to concede perfect freedom of
opinion and of action in all public
matters to each suffragist, 1t would
work admirably anywhere and always
Unfortunately. neither of these condi-
lions obtains in Virginia. and that is
where the viva voce system of voting
breaks down.
1t is no answer at all to say that the
man who can be coerced Is not fit to
vote. Inc fact remains that in any
state OF society where thousands of
-Rfefa- dependent i,,t,t,z,,
upon the wills OF other men, the viva
~oce system subjects them to coercion
and yitiates the whole result of an
Election; because the result is not n free
Expression of the popular Will. The
one essential in n suffrage system is
that it gives every voter an opportu-
nifty to express his choice, untram-
meied. without compuls!on or the fear
Of compuslon. This, we submit. the
viva voce system will not and cannot
do at this present day.
How would this system work In The
premises to-day? In n hot campaign
the employer who conceived that his
interests lay on one side. would CON
frivc TO let it be known that the lob of
any employee who voted with the other
would be worth very little we like.
OF course. to think of the employee.
"a free American citizen" marching
up TO the polls with fire in his eve
and his bosom expanded. and voting
ms sentiments Notwithstanding MANY
would do so; many would either stay
away from the polls or vote TO retain
The opportunity to support his family
md himself. We have to take the cor
ditions and men as we find them, and
make laws To obtain certain results i'm
actual. not ideal, circumstances.
We are utterly unable 10 perceive
how Il secret ballot helps the political
boss or promotes ring rule, unless the
community likes the boss and ring
rule. Ii 1t does. it will contrive 10
have both with Il system OF viva vocc
voting. Indeed, this latter would rath-
or accentuate such evils. as well as
the purchase of votes. There will be
some corruption under any ballot sys-
tenn; 1t Is doubtful that there would be
less with the viva voce than the secret
method OF voting. We have heard mon
whose business it was to carry cleo
lions, by fair means or foul, heap NAL
cdictions on the Australian system as
the most honest in existence. after hav-
Ing experimental ON n variety. 1t
leaves the voter free to vote his senti-
ments; 1t makes 1t practically useless
Tor the 6oodler to buy votes, because