The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-01


early hour, thus giving his cause the
signs OF success, can the political mana
ger improperly shape the voting, but In
q hundred ways he Is an able manlpu-
lator of his nerarious schemes solely
by reason Of, knowing with certainty
Just how the vote stands at any hour.
When his cause seems to be tagging he
Is spurred on 60 new tricks to recoup
himself, or driven to practices and frauds
by his desperate strait, which strait
would not be known to him under the
system of secret voting.
TO many, the above objection to viva
voce voting may seem q minor considera-
ton, but II II be reflected upon. it will
be found to be an argument against one
of the greatest evils Of tho whole system
Of open voting. This characterization is
true because this "stampedlng'' is not
preventable, in open voting, by any de-
vices OF law Secrecy is its only correc.
tive.
Verify the secret ballot is the despair
OF the willy politician! All his calculus
tions under it are guess work, He slnp
as he bitterly complains, cant. know how
people are voting or are going to vote.
This Is as 1t Should be-
IT IS THE ALLY OF COERCION.
3, That viva voce voting is the great
opportunity Of coercion is probably the
most familiar argument. against 1.-The
system. Certainly none could be truer or
stronger. 1t Is often said that secret
voting came into use to protect the labor
Ing man from the domination Of his chi
ployer. Many causes however, and no
single evil, have brought about the re-
form. IN 9
Coercion Is often n far more subtle
thing than the fear Of Closing a. Job for
voting against n boss. ~ even when that
fear has been communicated by popular
impression rather than by the actual
threats OF the employer. The fear OF 60
Ing counter to sentiment which hap
pens to prevail In particular. locality
the fear Of criticism, or perhaps of ostra-
clsm, are Just as potent with the voter
Tho intimidation OF abstract opinion is
n real factor acting upon the voters mind
before 1t reaches him In words or acts
One might watch a local option" cam
paign 10 be convinced of this. It Is we'll
enough that what VIC call public opinion
should influence. enlighten. or persuade
| voters, but 1t should never intimidats
| them. as it does SO often, and to SO much
greater extent, when the ballot Is an open
| one.
| Not only must tho laborer be protected
| from the employer, but he must be saved
! from the tyranny of his fellow-laborer
| in these days OF labor unions. We have
had some fine illustrations In Virginia of
| how the secret ballot protects labor from
the intimidation OF labor. Readers of our
newspapers can recall the cases where
unions have voted to keep up n hopeless
strike (and SO long as) the voting was
viva voce. the strike being called on
the moment secret ballot was taken. II
we want objec lessons. instead of ar
| guments. need we look further than thaso
! cases!
IT is NO SCHOOL OF "AIANL1NEss...
| 4. The advocates of .old viva voice. ars
| fond Of pointing to It's alleged "manll-
ness" They say that manly. brave, truth
/, full, and honest men do not care who
knows how they vote. In reply demurrer
to evidence Is In order. What II II be
true? Men VIII never be made brave
by open voting, which sometimes Is an
| opportunity for the display of courage
towards and liars, on the other hand.
are confirmed IN their error and shut UP
to 1t by opcn voting. 80 that while that
| system docs not make men brave mr.
truthful 1t does mako them give way to
timidity and falsehood. For cannot n man
lie or show cOwardlce with the living
voice whep he votea2 His spoken vote
proves nothing. John Smith. let us say,
| With hIs living voice. and like u man.
vote. dr." Ut the polls. Docs that show
| that John Smith has the courage OF hs
convictions, and isn't afraid OF the ga
loon element" In politics or b,,sinesg? or
| does Il show that In In "prlcnt rdden''
and bidding for tho patronage or his
church people, against HIS own 1uds-
mcnt OF what II wise IN government? II
the latter be the case. he Is lying viva
voce finding undcr the "rnanly' system
Of open voting a cloak for his coward ce
faleehond, and other mnwnr,hine-s. aud u
even able 10 poge as brave, truthful and
manly, He would have had no 0ppnrt,,.
nifty TO parade his virtpos, no temptation
70 yield to hia Vices. lias' he voted secret-
w HIS real character would not have
been impaired or made With gecrecy, IL
eappresH or falaify his real convictions
would b. inoiigGlcHs.
Resises does secret voting mako a brays
man limd? How IN lic hurta
But II Il coula be granted that viva
yoee voting taught men 70 BIO brave and
truthful and manly ms It's advocate,
' claim, Tho Plea would blIll involve an nh.