New-York tribune., 1905-11-10
MOVE FOR FAIRER BALLOT.
Citizens Committee Meets-C. u.
Prepares to Fight.

1t became evident yesterday from activity in
many quarters that the next legislature will be
asked certain drastic legislation which
will in large measure prevent the frauds which
have raised such cry in connection with the re-
cent municipal campaign. 1t is not unlikely that
pressure will be brought to bear for the adoption
of the Massachusetts ballot which has always
been under the ban of New-York bosses, because
1t demanded a certain degree OF intelligence IN the
voter and made il possible to split tickets without
special expert instruction. In ADDITION 10 a oallof
bill there will be introduced a corrupt practices
measure, which will be effective in every county
and election district in the State
important step to this end was taken
yesterday when the subcommittee of the citizens
committee was called together by ex-Mayor Low,
its chairman. the Office of Gherardi Davis NO.
a Pine-st., who. with D. Cady Herrick and Will
lam Church Osborn have particularly in charge
the suhiect of corrupt practices. AS soon pos
sfble a corrupt practices measure will be framed
and when approved by the full committee IL VIII
be sent Albany
The Citizens Union has likewise taken up the sub
ject and will make a particular fight for new
ballot 1t wants the Australian system as now
in use in Massachusetts. and strong legislative
petition will be prepared rapidly as possible IN
the mean time the union is gathering information
relating to frauds the last election 1t is also
receiving informal ton relating the of the
votes which will be placed at the disposal OF MI
Hearst or any other persons who may be interested
in an investigation of last Tuesdays election
In an authorized statement given out yesterday
at the Citizens Union headquarters II was stated
that the union had for many years been interested
I'm the purity and efficiency of the electoral fran
chise and believes that ballot should be so de-
yised as to permit the accurately and easily
to register his individual will the polls The
statement continues:
The election of Tuesday a striking illustration
of the difficulties which the party bosses have
thrown way of the who is prepared
o submit being led by the the polls and
The cost money and effort merely TO instruct
voters how 10 they have already made up
their minds they want vote, that their DaIlots
will not be thrown counted in some way
they do want, is enormous, and this remains
true after more than fifteen years experience
with the present form of ballot
Inasmuch grave charges have been made as
TO the honesty and accuracy OF the canvass or the
vote Mayor the election just held the e1ecu-
tive committee OF the Citizens Union thinks that
derstands that investigation TO this END is al
foot. 1t declares that the principal u1ef-
lying such investigation is larger than any
involved in the campaign-the principle tnat ths
prevail
District Attorney Jerome is said TO be strongly
in favor of a and more simple form or ballot
he will doubtless lend his influence 10 any
measure that promises improvement He knows
how great a sum il cost the Jerome nominators TO
placard the town with instructions how TO split the
various party tickets in order vote for the IN
dependent nominee for District Attorney street
cars billboerds handhills and the newspapers were
freely used and then than ten thousand He
ming presumably because they were afraid to at
tempt q split