New-York tribune., 1905-11-10
AN INSTRUCTIVE TEST.

We note with satisfaction that MIR. Hearsrs
demand for a recount Of the votes cast last 1ues-
day has met with very general and very corulai
approval. Ordinarily the American public &C
cepts q declared result and questions the utility
of refighting an apparently lost battle ordi-
nariIy, too, partsanship is infiamed by charges
of fraud and the good faith of the contest Is
challenged by the party organization accused
and its newspaper defenders. No such opposl-
ton has manifested itself, however, In the con-
fest NOW begun. The newspapers which sup
ported Mr. McCiellan-"The Times" and Ihe
SUM-" in Manhattan, and THE Eagle" in BROOK
lyn-haye conceded that the request for re-
count is reasonable and necessary, ana OUTSIDE
the small group of defeated honest grafters' at
Tammany headquarters there seems to be httie
or no dissent from the contention that the Will
of the people as expressed at the polls ON Tues
day must be exactly ascertained and cneerfuily
submitted TO- The question at issue is funda-
mental one, going deeper than the fortunes OF
any individual or any party. Inc VIII OF Tie liza
iority must be enforced, no matter who is hurt
in the process and that will must not be nullified
by the frauds or errors of election officials
In Its present temper the NewYork public IS
not to be trif1ed with, and few apologists OF
Tammany, we suspect, will venture to put them
selves Oh record as wishing to avoid a full ana
fair investigation of the charges made OF cleo
tion trickery and manipulation. 1t is, In fact,
time to lift the lid" from election practices.
1t is highly desirable that we should turnA d
searchlight- on the system now ID force ana see
inst how far it countenances attempts to defeat
the will of the voters. Has the secrecy OF the
ballot been preservedi Have proper rules or IN
depreciation been enforced by the election boards
in accepting and rejecting doubtful ballots!
Have the inspectors too great latitude under
the law, and does that latitude encourage coliu-
sion in rulings for or against disputed ballotsF
No better test Of the actual workings OF the
ballot law could possibly have been devised
than critical recount Of the vote last Tuesday.
One Of the leading candidates for Mayor mace
bis fight without organization and without rep
resentation on the election boards In many
cases the Republican representatives on those
boards were open to Tammany influence. Did
the election officers give the Municipal Owner
shin and the Jerome tickets "a square deal!
Or did they stretch their authority, when the
opportunity offered, to discriminate against MT.
Hearst and Mr. Jerome? These are questions
which minute study of the returns and or the
rejected ballots will definitely answer; and any
light thrown on existing abuses will be helpfui
in framing amendments TO the present hol "Aoiiy
satisfactory ballot law.
This election has made it evident that the
haIIot law as it stands, is confusing and In
elastic. Lawyers are still divided as to whether
q cross in the Republican circle and cross III
the Jerome circle constituted q valid straight
Republican ballot Since the Jerome column
contained only a single name, what pracucai
difference did it make whether the voter mace
a cross in the circle above or in the reetahgie
oppos,te the name? The intent In either case
was clear Yet 1t is conceivable that many pal
lots marked In the Jerome circle and one otner
circle were rejected by the inspectors as defec-
five and that other ballots much less pam III
Intention were passed as valid One result OF
the Hearst contest will be the clarihcatlon OF
the ballot law, and from that point OF view
alone 1t promises to do a timely and helprul
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