The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-24
VOTING MACHINE.
One Invented in Topeka That Is
q Revelation
j. P. PaynterrIs the Successful
INVENTOR
TEST is BEING MADE.
Voting Going on at MidWinter
Exposition.
Topeka Capitalists Are Behind
the Venture.

]. P. Paynter, a native of Wales, who
y years ago took out his naturalization
papers in this city. has put on exhibi-
ton at the Midwinter exposition a vot-
ing machine of his invention which is no
doubt the most wonderful thing of its
kind ever manufactured.
A company of Topeka capitalists has
been formed to finance Mr.. Paynter's
invention, and the probability is that
factory will be erected in Topeka short
ly for the construction of the Paynter
machines. The machine is on exhibition
at the Hall Lithographing company
booth. and is in full running order. Any
one can vote on it who desires to do SO.
All the tickets as voted in the last cleo
ton are on the machine.
Mr.. Paynter is a genius in the field Of
invention. He has invented a very sue
cessful coal mining device which does
the work OF fourteen men. The Santa
F'e railway uses $4,000 worth of these
machines in its mines.
Il commenced active work on this in
vention,' said Mr.. Paynter today, as
soon as the Kansas legislature passed
the act authorizing the use OF voting
machines and specifying what kind OF
machines would be acceptable to the
state, d commenced to work on those
specifications. | have a machine which
not only fulfills all the requirements Of
the Kansas act, bVt which is suitable
for any state in the union, and can even
be used for voting In England for mem
bers of the house of commons. 1t takes
a small fortune to introduce such an
invention, however, and most inventors
cannot afford to impoverish themselves
to get their invention introduced. A
company of Topeka men has been form
ed, and they have the money to put the
] 20 fO Tosri7 he-
machines here in Topeka if we are sue
cessful in having them adopted
Beginning on Monday, Mr.. Paynter
will conduct a mock election of mayor
on his machine. Opportunity viii be
given for q test of strength of the vari-
Gus candidates. The wa1erworks bonds
proposition VIII also be submitted"
Mr.. Paynter has lived continuously
I in Topeka since 1894. He first came to
+ Kansas in 1882 and was married in
this state His only child, a little boy,
was run over and killed by a street car
/ on Fourth street about two years ago.
Mr.. Paynter says he has Travelled
+ through nearly all of the states of the
union, but Kansas is the best of all,
and he counts this state his home.
Tt is estimated that the machines can
! be put on the market for $500 apiece
/ They are made of aluminium, brass and
I steel, and the oak standard upon which
! the machine rests while in Use is the
4 box into which the apparatus is pack
j
4 weighs about 800 pounds. and can be
4 easily handled by two men. The first
machine was BURT by Fremont Curry
and D. P. Hayes, machinists of this
city.
! The machine can be used for straight
ticket voting, selectiVe voting, indie
/ pendent voting, cumulative voting
/ split-ticket voting, yes" and mo"
voting, and other combinations.
The machine Is made entirely of
! \
with time-locl<s which automatically
i open and close the voting machine al
/ the hours required by law, and lock
/ the machine against further voting: at
the same time exposing the count
showing the number of votes cast for
each candidate. number of straight
tickets cast, number each of men and
women voters and total Number of
voters that voted in the precinct
Operation Of the machine IS very
easy and simple matter AS the voter
enters tae booth he sees on the face Of
the machine cards headed with the
ing names of the candidates to be voted
for. and push button opposite the
name OF each candidate. The voter
pushes the button opposite the name O.
the candidate for whom he wishes To
vote; after voting he cannot pull this
button out. as it is locked and his vote
4 recorded, nor can le destroy his vote b.
pushing another button for the sanue
Office on another party ticket. as al lock
when he pushes the button, and stay
locked while he IS in the booth. After
the voter has pushed a button for each
candidate desired, ne has locked the en-
| tire machine. When he opens the dooa
/ upon leaving the booth the push but.
tons instantly resume the original posi-
ton, ready for the next voter. A voter
wishing to vote a straight ticket simply
pushes a straight ticket button. and thu
one motion registers a vote for each
candidate on the ticket A straight