Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-10-30
OCTOBER 80, 1901.
SHOULD the sALLo1 Dc CHANGED

In the mind, Editor N. F. Olson OF the
Anoka Free Press ia led to condemn
the present form of the Australian bal
lot in Minnesota as ''bewildering"
etc., and to advocate change in the
same. The Free Press says:
"There is lots of room for improve
ment in the Australian ballot az used
1T general elections In this state. The
party designation at the end Of each
name in q long string of names for
the same Office 10 q delusion and a
snare, as was proven in the last state
election here. That kind of a Devil.
dering mess was responsible for the
defeat OF the man the people wanted
for governor and for the election in q
way) of an individual tor whom q
large majority of citizens of the state
had no earthly use.
"A far better form of ballot is
that employed In Ohio, where each
party ticket is printed in full by itself
and all of them arranged side by side
in such a way that no one can vote
for q man without knowing on what
party's ticket he Is.
"Ohio, like some other states We
know of, elects some mighty poor
men for Office at times, but with such
q ballot as the Ohio voters have, there
is this about it that however worthless
the candidate, be comes honestly by
the votes he gets."
We beg to differ with Bro. Olson in
this matter. We have examined the
forms of ballot used in several states
and have arrived at the conclusion
that the Minnesota ballot in the form
now used is among the very best de-
vised. The voter is obliged to look
through the whole ballot and mark a
name for each Office. In doing SO his
eye passes over every name on the
ticket and If he chooses to vote for the
best man irrespective of party, be can
do so with the least effort. 1t is some
what of an educational test, we admit,
but it is better SO. A man who Is not
intelligent enough to mark his ballot
correctly loses his vote. He may
know something about the leading
candidates. He marks his choice
there, but passes up the minor offices
OF the candidates for which he knows
nothing. If he wishes to vote q party
ticket, he has the party designation
after each name to guide him. The
individuality of the candidates has a
better chance upon the Minnesota bal
lot than upon any other we have seen.
And that is worth good deal.
The Ohio blanket ballot is but q
step removed from the old method of
voting, in the ease of manipulation by
party bosses. There is no educational
test unless q man wants to vote split
ticket. Every party ticket is printed
in separate column and each party
adopts an emblem which is printed at
the top OF the ticket. One party uses
the picture of an eagle, another q
pillow, etc. Under the emblem is q
round space in which to make an TX"
in case the voter wishes to vote the
ticket straight. In this way the most
ignorant, who cannot read the party
name even, votes for the pillow, the
eagle, the COW, the elephant or any,
thing that his boss tells him to vote
for. To adopt this ballot in Mime
sofa would be long step backwards
in the intelligent use of the franchise,
and we are sure Bro. Olson does not
desire any retrogression.
The stealing OF party names is an
other thing. The social-democrat
feature on the last ballot was q steal
Of party name and q bald-headed
trick. Someone Numbered or it would
not have been successful. It is not
likely to happen again.
The ideal ballot of the future will
simply give the names Of the candi-
dates for each Office without their par
ty endorsements. In view of what has
been accomplished in the past We are
justified in believing it possible that
we may live to see the day when such
a ballot will be used in Minnesota.
Then will the bane Of party prejudices
and ring-rule manipulations have re-
ceived stunning blow.
Instead of asking for modification
Of the educational test of the existing
ballot, every person DESTROYS of pro-
noting political reform ought to up
hold it, and draw the lines tighter If.
possible. There is one provision of
the law, which should be stricken out,
and that is that part allowing anyone
70 accompany . voter into the booth
for the purpose of ''helping" him
mark his ballot. This provision per-
Kits Of the rankest kind Of abuse, and
defeats in many instances the very
purpose Of the Australian ballot sys-
lem. II 3 person is 50 ignorant that
be cannot mark his ballot with the aid 4
Of the sample ballots it is not safe TO
allow some party boss or henchman
10 90 In and mark it for him. With
his exception we consider the Mime
Iota ballot as good as any IL use IN
my state Of the Union.
! d. g. e. Gsrretson, dentist. once
y Aikkelson block, ilmsr. ~