Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-04
Millinery Opening to-day at Mars
den L.. COlvig's, 1914 Main street.
THE OPEN BALLOT.
The Republican Committee Criticize
For the Stand 1t Takes.


To the Editor of the Register.
,Sir:-Following is a paragraph clipped
from the IntelIigencer's report of the
meeting of the ohio County Republican
Executive Committee, held in Chairman
Hornish's office Monday night:
"Since the Committee some time since de-
cded on the Australian. ballot for the
primary election on April 2S in Difference
to a majority of the candidates who had
met with the committee and expressed
their preference for it, there has been a
decided change of sentiment in some quar-
tiers and an effort is to be made to have
the old style open ballot substituted. 1t
is said six candidates have now united in
a request for the change. The argument
is made in support of the change that the
open ballot will mean large vote at the
primary election, and that it will be impos-
sibe to get out a good vote with the Aus
tralian ballot. The prestige of large
vote at the primaries is contended to be
of great Importance"
Has not the intelligencer allowed a typo
graphical error to pass in the first sem
tence of the above? We know that in
truth it should read in DEFIANCE to
a majority of the candidates San eff
fort will be made to have the open ballot
substituted
Six candidates, the paragraph states,
have united in a request for the open bal
lot-the SIX who are slated by the
ring who have already paid ''pinchers"
and workers" to be present at the polls,
whose duty it will be to perform the var
ious sleight-of-hand tricks employed in
the south to protect the whites from negro
supremacy-the means by which the choice
of the people goes down beneath a load
of ballots intended by the voter to bear
his name, but subjected to the usual cen
sorship by paid ring before the count
ing.
If the open ballot is defeated these six
candidates will have lost the legal ten
der" they have already invested and will
have to take their chances at the hands of
the majority and the ring" will be I'M
able to deliver the goods" they have al
ready sold. So you blame them for want
ing the ballot that can be changed to elect
them in defiance of the Will of the people
Yes, the open ballot usually brings out
a larger vote than the Australian ballot.
The Australian ballot can not be changed
by hireling of dishonest candidate. 1t
NoblVOl NC SlulLCu, IIOl CeIl utdu Illtu anu
recent arrivals on freight trains vote. We
know of a certain district in the interior
of the State where, by the use of the open
ballot a certain candidate got several more
votes at the primaries than there were
votes of both parties in the whole district.
The open ballot is a mighty good thing
sure thing" for the dishonest candidate
with plenty of money, but an honest, cap
able man with no money, stands but little
show even though he be the choice of the
American people by big majority.
This is written in defense of that most
precious right of a free people-an honest
ballot-the Australian ballot. But l cam
not close without paying a tribute to that
worthy young champion of the rights of
the American people-the anti-ring candi-
date for prosecuting attorney, G. c. Jan
sen. LOUIS NJ. REFFNER