The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-23

lot been used in previous elections?
Mr.. Atkinson. one made with sim
liar idea: it was not exactly in tina
form. It had the perforation on tn
side. with a second number.
The Chairman. The second number
which was torn off ran perPendiculariy
Mr.. Atkinson. Yes, sir; instead OF
horizontally.
The Chairman. How long has tha1
form of ballot been used?
Mr.. Atkinson. That was at the pre-
vious election.
The Chairman. One year previous
Mr. Atkinson. Two years previously
The one previous TO Inat was Wher@
the fraud took place. There was moth
ing said last year about this, at the
last election.
Mr.. weems. Explain this endless
chain to me-
| Mr.. Atkinson. A man can get "ut
one ballot. and he can keep il running
right around.
! Take scheme that is generally
worked. The inspector of election gives
me a ballot, and I come in and go to
nv booth, where 1 can not be seen,
and I pretend to mark that ballot but
put it in my pocket, and | hand back
another piece of paper folded Zip like
that (indicating), and state that there
are no marks on that and L give that
to him and he puts it in the ballot box
I lose one ballot. The party that does
this loses one ballot. Then l go out
and hand this to the politician, and he
SAYS. If you viii go and put this
marked ballot in and bring your own
ballot back I will give you certain
sum of money
Mr. Weems They have to have one
to start on. then?
Mr. Currier. Yes.
Mr.. Mclaughlin And they mark the
one they want brought out?
Mr. Currier. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Atkinson. I have seen some bal
lots that We're printed that this was
done on When our administration
went in we went at this to prevent
fraud. and this was done to prevent
fraud.
Mr.. Weems Now, do you know
whether or not it is claimed that any
fraud was perpetrated by means of
these practices. and, if so, how could
they be utilized?
Mr.. Atkinson The only argument
that they are using is this: That they
can get an ignorant man and say to
him, Here, you are an employee of
the Government. There are numbers
on that ballot, and if you do not vote
as you are told they will know it and
they will fire you That is the argu-
ment that they say is used.
The Chairman. What is it that pre-
vents a free exercise of the right of
suffra ge?
Mr.. Atkinson. That is the view. But |
I think it is, in the first place, an in
suit 10 the voter, and in the second
place, it is utterly absurd.
Mr.. Weems. 1t would all depend on
it was torn off
Mr. Atkinson. The instructions are !
perfectly plain, and if the inspectors !
follow the instructions 1 do not see :.
how anything could happen.
Mr.. Weems. You write the name of .
the voter on the stub, also?
Mr.. Atkinson. No, sir.
The Chairman. Do you take his
name in a book. or anywhere or in any
way, whereby his name and the num-
Der of his ballot can be connected?
Mr.. Atkinson. If that ballot is put
in the box with the number on it, it
certainly can be.
Mr.. Weems In what way?
Mr.. Atkinson. Because here you are.
I come to vote and I sign my name and
I give my age and address and nativ-
ity Now, that gives certain informa-
ton which viii Identify me with my
at the date of registra-
ton. Here is the affidavit of registra-
ton. When 7 register according to
7 civ M 1-aci-
dence, nativity. and all these other
details which are required-for in
stance. whether I have any physical
disability which will prevent me from
voting without assistance. That is the
affidavit of registration. From those
aff1davits are prepared the lists of
voters which are drawn up so that a
man can tell whether voter has voted
or not. Those lists have to be put up
a certain number of days before the
election. When I come in to vote my
name. age, address, and nativity are
given. That gives the necessary in
formation to identify me.
The Chairman. That is taken by one
of the officers of the election?
Mr.. Atkinson. Yes, sir.
Mr. Weems. Does the officer of cleo
ton put down on stub or anywhere
the number of the ballot handed to
man?
Mr.. atkinson. Yes, sir. I come in
to VIE and am handed a ballot, and
no, he does not. I beg your pardon.
it is rot put down. It is left. It is
not written down. but it is left on the
stub. That is what it is.
Mr.. Currier. Now, these numbers on
the stubs begin with a certain number,
and then they are numbered conse-
cutively up, are they?
Mr.. Atkinson. Yes. sir.
The Chairman. Then. by counting
the names of those who voted. you
could identify your name? If you are
the fifth man, your ballot would be
No 5?
Mr.. Atkinson. Certainly; if that
number is put in the ballot box you
certainly can identify the man, with
out any question There is no deny
ing that