The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-17
A new VOTING MACHINE
1T Is ABOUT READY FOR THE MAR
KET AT SOUTH BEND.
MilIersburg Man Is the Inventor, and
1t Is Said to BE Very Complete
and Effective Device.


South Bend Qnd) Tribune.
A new voting machine is being built in
this city which will be completed in a few
days and placed on exhibition. The ma
chine is simple I'm construction and prom
fses TO be not only the best but the cheap
est voting machine now on the market.
The arrangement was invented and patent
ed by F. M. Myers. of Millersburg. Ind.
The machine reduces the Australian sys-
tenn OF voting TO a mathematical science.
does its own counting. makes its own tally
sheet and exhibits the result Immediately
after the polls are closed. All possibilities
of a fraud are eliminated by the perfected
arrangement of the mechanism of the ma
chine
The machine, or three machines in one
case, represent the three different tickets Of
the Australian ballot system, the state.
the county and the township tickets. and
any person who ever voted would have no
difficulty in operating the machine. Pro-
vision is made for seven different parties
in the field, and an opportunity is also
given a voter TO vote for a man whose
name may not be on any of the tickets.
and also for constitutional amendments.
The name of the ticket the emblem of the
party and the name of each candidate ap
pears on the front or face of the machine.
In place of a square at the head of the
ticket or at the side of the name of each
candidate a knob or lever projects below
the names, and in pulling 1t down the vote
is registered.
To vote a straight ticket the knob at
the head of the ticket is pulled down and a
vote is cast for each candidate on that
ticket by virtue of the mechanism of the
machine When the straight ticket lever
is down every other lever in the machine
is locked and cannot be operated; In vot-
ing split ticket the knobs for the differ
ent candidates voter wishes to vote for
are pulled down and the vote is recorded
a dial on the back of the machine. the
knobs being levers TO double rachel.
which revolves when the knob is pulled
down.
There are two dials. a small one with
numbers up to 40 and larger one with
numbers up TO 600. By adding the two
numbers the total result is shown. When
the split ticket Is voted the straight ticket
knobs are locked the moment one of the
other levers are operated. and when one
candidate for an office Is voted for all the
other KNOBS for the same office on the other
tickets are locked, thereby making it utter
ly impossible for frauds to be perpetrated
or mistakes made. After vote Is cast a
shift key on the side releases the levers
and the machine is ready for another voter.
RESULT SOON KNOWN.
When the polls are opened in the morning
the back of the machine is locked and the
keys handed TO the election inspectors. A
proper official will operate the shift key
releasing the levers or knobs after the vote
is recorded. When the polls closed the
front of the machine is locked so that the
knobs cannot be operated and she doors
concealing the record of the votes are un-
locked and the result recorded on the tally
sheet, which need not be larger than the
official ballot. The result can be made
known In a very short time after the polls
close. All that is necessary is to add TO the
number Of straight votes cast for a ticket
the number of individual votes of each can
didate and the return is ready.
Mr.. Myers thought out the idea a year
ago and went to work on a model, which he
whitfield out in wood with his pocket knife.
with the exception of few steel pins. He
made four models before he secured the one
desired. He had his invention protected by
patent Jan. %. 1901 Edward Buysse. a
jeweler. is building the machine by hand
and with some assistance given by Mr..
Myers has been working nearly two months
on 1t. The parts are all constructed with
the accuracy of clock work.
A company composed of the inventor, his
two brothers. b. A. and j. ID. Myers. of
cago. has been formed. with capital stock
Of $40 600 and will soon file articles OF incor-
poration. 1t is the intention to secure dies
| for the cutting OF the mechanism of the
machine, which is for the most part of
| brass and steel and locate a factory for the
manufacture of the machine for the present
at Milersburg.
The company will have things in shape
| for the next State election and expects to
| have a number Of machines in use at that
+! time After the machines ready for
| operation they will be iegalized by the gov
| eminent. set of machines, which includes
| the three tickets will be worth between $500
| and $500 Each division is 24x3S inches and
| weighs about sixty pounds. The machines
are inclosed in an antique oak case. On
| the start the company will put out an av-
| erage Of a machine a day. but will be
| equipped so that if occasion demands ii the
| capacity can be increased to ten machines
| daN