The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-02-27
BALLOT REFORM
WORK BEGUN
Senator Fooht, of Union Confident
That His Proposed Changes
Will Be Made,
BLANKET BALLOTS ARE TO GO,
TEN Introduced and the ConNc-
nicncc OF Regular rarty Men Is
Properly Given Due Consideration.
Special Correspondence0


taken by the leaders Of the Republican
organization to carry into effect their
pledges for ballot reform was taken
last week when Senator Benjamin X.
Focht. Of Union county, chairman OF
the committee on elections, presented
hill in the senate which provides fNI
material changes in the present system
of balloting.
This bill meets a number Of ohiec-
tions that have been raised to the
present system and, although 1t Will
probably be changed in several par
ticulars before it becomes a law, it
represents the general plans Of the
party leaders on this subject.
The bill will do away with the pres
ent unwieldy ballot. and while the de-
mands Of the ultra-ballot reform agi-
tators for the pure Australian" sys-
TEN are not fully granted, the ballot is
made Of such a character as shall meet
the demands of the Republicans who
comprise large percentage of the vot-
ing population of this commonwealth.
CONVENIENCE OF PARTY MEN.
One Of the demands from these pro-
fessional reformers has been that there
shall be no device or arrangement by
which members Of any political party
can by simply making one mark vote
for all the candidates OF that party.
This proposition has been given care
full consideration by the Republican
leaders, and they have reached the con-
clusion that Republicans, Democrats,
Prohibitionists or members Of any
other well established party should
not be put to the inconvenience or an
noyance Of putting a mark after the
name Of each candidate for whom they
wish to vote when they desire TO cast
a ballot for every candidate Of their
respective party.
There will be the usual howl from
these radical "reformers," none Of
whom are in sympathy with the regu-
lar Republican organization, against
the plan provided under Senator
Focht's bill But a great majority of
Republicans, Democrats and Prohibit
tionists unquestionably demand some
provision that will facilitate their vot-
ing for their party candidates without
having to pick out their favorites from
a long list Of names and possibly,
through error, vote for candidates
whom they do not favor
Senator Focht's bill, which is to be
substituted for the present Baker hal
lot law, also comprehends vital and
necessary changes in the present pri-
mary election law.
The bill practically emhodies all the
of the Australian system, the
of all parties being grouped
under headings designating the ofice
for which they are running. The
circles at the top are reserved to ac-
commcdata the so or 90 per cent OF |
Republicans and Democrats who wish
to vote a straight party ticket, while
the distinctive Australian feature of
grouping candidates affords those de-
string to vote a split ticket every ap-
portunity Of doing so. The names Of |
candidates are allowed on the ballot
but once. Those by party certificates !
will have printed after the name the |
party designations. while all nominal |
tions by nomination papers will be de- |
rs Independent nominations. |
BLANKET BALLoIs ABOLISHED. !
This greatly reduces the size Of the
ballot, and the blanket sheet will be |
Of the past Senator Focht |
says he has examined carefully all the
ballot laws Of all the states. as well as
the sample ballots used. and it is his
opinion that in this bill he has pre-
;ented the best system Of voting in the
country. as well as the most convenient
md best constructed ballot, mechan-
cally, now used in the United States. |
Senator Focht says nothing can be
lone with the registration law until
here shall be an amendment to the
as the qualification OF
electors to register is now defined by
that instrument. This bill also pro-
yides for and simplifies the nomina-
lion Of ali candidates.
The bill retains many provisions OF
the present law, for instance:
First-Mark in the circle is a vote
'or every candidate of that party
whose name is under the circle.
Second-The percentage necessary to
place independent candidates upon the
ticket is the same, one-half Of / per
cent for candidates for state officers,
and per cent for all other officers,
the only change being that for state
officers the names must be secured in
al least ten counties instead OF any
one county, as at present.
Third-The ballots are numbered:
unused and mutilated ballots are re-
turned, as under the present law, to the
court.
Fourth-The penalties remain the
same as under the present law.
NO NAME TO APPEAR TWICE.
The Focht bill differs from the pres
ent law in that no name Of a candidate
shall appear twice upon the same bal
lot for the same Office. The candidates
name win appear on the ballot under |
the heading Of the party which first
nominated him, unless he elects other
wise
No name can appear on the ticket as
a candidate for office representing any |
element or party or faction unless that |
faction or party maintains a |
party organization and is so recognized |
by the public, and then the candidate
must have been nominated in accord /
ance with the party rules. All candi. |
dates on the ticket will be grouped, |
each name followed by the party des- |
ignation, but a straight parry ticket |
may be voted by a cross in the circle. |
which will appear at the top of the |
ticket, one for each party represented |
thereon.
Some changes are made in the tine |
'Or ming certificates OF nomination and |
nomination papers, such papers having |
% be filed earlier than is now pro-
1ided by the Baker ballot law.
FAKE PARTIES BARRED.
Such terms as "Jeflersonian Demo-
rats" Lincoln Republicans" ma
ional Democrats" Mckinley Repub-
Tonne % urftfurv- -.