The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
New Berlin thus certified:

New Berlin thus certified:
 Our voting machines operated without fault or hindrance from start to finish. All classes of voters praise the machines, and we have heard no complaint from anyone. We have secured a perfect Vot- ing system and expenses have been re duced about one-half. It is also vote saver.
 The newspapers of New York were equally positive and unstinted in com mending the work of the machines. The Buffalo Commercial declared that the experiment in that city was "an achievement of a remarkable charac- ter." The Rochester Democrat said the machine "is one of the inventive triumphs of the age." The Utica Herald declared, after the machines had been tried, sentiment is all one way, in favor of the machine These are samples of the expressions of pa- pers throughout the State. In the city of New York and Brooklyn, papers like The Eagle, Times, Sun, Post, Mail and Express. and, in fact, almost all the prominent newspapers, were enthusi- astic and unequivocal in their endorse ment of the system.
 There are three important advan- tages in this system. the first being the absolute accuracy and reliability of the machines, as we'll as the perfect se- crecy. A man goes to the machine, draws a curtain behind him and touches a lever or knob. His vote IS recorded instantly and unchangeably. tunity to change the result in any way. After thc voter records his vote it muss remain so. No opportunity Is given for deposfting false ballots. for changing the results. for haggling and disputing over the ballots, for substituting one for another, or for false additions and returns. In one ward in Utica, the machine at the close of the polls show ed that the vote for two candidates for Alderman were 432 for one and 4S3 for the other. anl what The Utica Herald says of the incident is worth copying:
 Fancy what would have taken place with printed balIots The count would have been disputed. Accounts and counts again would have been made. The an, nouncement would have been delayed till the hours of morning, and then the matter would not have been settled. mere Wouin have been defective ballots on wnicn 10 hang a contest, and possibly appeal to the courts. with all the interest both par ties would have felt in the outcome whlcn decides control of the councli. The nia- chine has no defective ballots, none marked, nothing but the plain record or sha have done. The ma iority of one was accepted on the instant and no contest. bad feeling. excitemeRt or extra expense follows. This incident IS high mark in the machines favor.
 Another great advantage of this sys- tenn is the saving of time in ascertain ing and declaring results. AS this would be especially beneficial to the newspapers, The Advertiser might be accused of selfishness in advocating IT, but as candidates, election ofncers ana the public generally are all benehtted by a oui.k and accurate report of the result of an election. we can advocate the plan without being charged with personal reasons. In this respect, the testimony is universal. In some city wards the results were tabulated and announced within i've minutes after the polls closed. In the great city of Buffalo at the election in November of last year, The Commercial was on the street one hour and a half after the polls closed. with the full tabulated vote for all candidates. National, State and municipal. From all over the State nf hn oap ra Practically. when the polls close, the election officers are prepared to an- nounce the result, and there are no disputes, delays or changes. It is diff ficult to over-estimate the benefits thus obtained.
 Another advantage of the system is the saving in the cost of conducting all elections, from the fact that so many clerks and other officials are dispensed with. One newspaper extract may be taken as a sample of many others. It is from The Gloversville (N. Y.) Herald of November F. last. and reads:
 In the auditing of the bills by the Com mon Council last night. the very pleasing fact was developed that the use of vot-
 
 payroll by the sum of $939.92. The payrool for 1899 under the ballot system was g., 13S12 while this year with the machines it was only $l.l9S. %. The machine has many advantages over any other method ol voting, thus far produced, and not the least of them Is the saving in the expense of conducting elections.
 Having given reasons for advocating the machine system of voting. we may say few words about its application. Our present Constitution declares that "all elections by the people shall be by ballot" It is not expected that the Constitution now being formed shall materially depart from this provision. or shall specifically enforce the use of machines, but it maybe so amended as to allow the Legislature to make the change. At tke last session of Con- gress, the Federal law governing the election of mftnbers of the House was so amended as to read5aS follows:
 All votes for Repressritatives in Con gress must bsshy writtea }or printed bal lot or voting machine. the use of which has been duly authorized by the State law. and all Votes received or recorded contrary to this section shall be of no effect. I--
 The section on the method of voting could be so amended by the Convention now in session as to read something like the above. leaving the Legislature at liberty to enact the necessary laws to carrv the system into effect in Ala