New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
MASSACHUSETTS, BALLOT.
Would Its adoption by Nerc York
Be a Desirable Reform.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In the State of New York there has been
much talk Of discarding the ballot in and
adopting the Massachusetts ballot The difference
petVeen the two may he told briefly. In New York
the names of candidates are arranged in party
columns so that one may vote straight ticket
by making a single mark in a circle at the head of
one or the columns. If he wants TO split he must
make mark In square adjoining the name of the
Cah'loate OF his choice another ticket. He may.
II ne chooses, disregard the party circle and mark
separately every candidate whatever ticket or
tickets for whom he wishes 10 vote
in Massachusetts, there is no party column, and
II Is impossible To straight ticket at a single
operation, all the candidates for each office being
printed i'm a group in alphabetical order. For
ample. the voter, spreading the ballot before him.
must turn TO the proper group. find the name of
his choice for Governor, and make mark accord
ingiy. He then proceeds to the next group and
marks his candidate for Lieutenant Governor and
so on through the entire list Of offices be filled
inc advocates Of the Massachusetts system urge
these claims in its behalf; That 1t compels the
voter to pass judgment upon each candidate sepa-
rateiy; that this method Is conducive to a thought
fuI and conscientious exercise right to vote
that II promotes independent voting; that it en-
c"urages parties TO nominate first class tickets
from top to bottom instead Of putting up good
men Tor the leading offices and inferior or objec-
uonable ones for the lower positions relying upon
the superior candidates pull the others through;
finally, that splitting a ticket in itself mani
festation OF good citizenship, while voting straight
IS Inherently Objectionable, and should be at least
as difficult as the system of marking candidates
by one.
The opponents of the Massachusetts system bring
forward these objections: That it consumes great
ueed Oh une that 1t discourages full performance
o. the duty OF voting; that 1t is EXPENSIVE that it
Is unnecessary. because the present New York
paiot Is adapted TO the marking OF each candidate
at the same time the 9fl6ts tar method W nile
cdr 1a. that lS
p9lcy TO compel all voters to adopt the method
OF me sIoWest onei that there is as much indie
pendent voting in New York as In Massachusetts;
nha!Iy, that If It is right to organize parties il
connection it is pointed out that there have been
s & crises IN this country where party featy
II mE9tEed some sacrifice of personal qualities in
II must be conceded that the friends OF the
present New York ballot have some pretty strong
this line was that of m wbicb IN
publican candidate for President and at the same
for Governor. But the State Of New York showed
quite as much Independence in November 1906
Tor oerno by Paray Of oyeF 57 no Whiis
10 the other state Offices Democratic or Independ-
Si'.e league candidates were elected by pluraues
ranging from 300 to L; 800
city officials elected by plurahtes OF from Sis
TO IS64e' and one Republican official by q plurality
Ruraes for city Officials were from rom i7 3 to 4a5
acts an obstacle to independent voting Roches-
ter and Buffalo use voting machines. New York
Cty uses the paper ballot, and II the chief
contributor 20 the election of Governor Hughes
The election Of Mr.. Jerome District Attorney OF
New York County in 1875 a notable assertion
OF Independent opinion at the polls. on the whole
It Is probable that the record OF the New York
ballot Is fully equal TO that OF the Massa chusetts
ballot as a promoter Of independent voting.
IL IS complained IN Massachusetts that the voter.
being compelled to search each Office group for ths
candidate Of his choice hnds the process SO te-
dl0us and time consuming that he frequently ahan-
dons the task without taking the trouble 10 record
his choice for minor candidates. That this IS
statement
the total vote cast in Massachuse- Is at the