New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-08
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE BALLOT REFORM QUESTION.
The Massachusetts, Ballot and Mr. Blake
Again.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The question OF ballot reform is so important
and is one upon which many persons appear TO
need more and better information that venture
70 ask leave TO reply to Mr. Biakes second letter,
which appeared in your issue OF April q.
The straw man which Mr.. Blake sets up and then
knocks down with suck relish would be
ognized by me at least intended an effigy Of
myself were it not expressly so labelled Mr. Blake
attributes to me- and in in quotation
marks, too, views that I never expressed or even
entertain.
In the first place. he claims that assert that the
mere fact that the machine brought about the
abandonment of the Massachusetts ballot in Rhode
Island condemns the change. Not at all. Mr..
Blake cited against the Massachusetts ballot its
abandonment by Rhode Island. and l answered
that the abandonment didn't prove what he claimed
for it, but could be accounted for on entirely other
grounds. 1 said that thought 1t could be shown
that the machine politicians in Rhode Island had
abandoned the Massachusetts ballot from machine
iEotVes and that, II so. the abandonment cast
discredit on that form of ballot. And I further
showed that any bona fde dissatisfaction in Rhode
Island had other perfectly natural and understand
able causes not involving the merits of the Massa-
chusetts ballot
Again Mr.. Blake says: Mr. Bard's point of view
toward the Massachusetts ballot is that it tests
inc intelligence of the voter and that it's merit
largely consists in this quality" Then Mr.. Blake
soes on 10 reduce me to absurdity by an argu-
ineht 10 the effect that If the merit of ballot lies
he test he
greater the merit and he might have added that the
ideal ballot would be one which nobody but matbe-
!iatcidhs ana lawyers could hope 10 vote correct
~ ana Ior which special university should
De required" Well OF course. do not think any
tlihs Oh the kind, and L claim that Mr. Rlake's
statement of my view has nothing TO supDort n IN
anything l have said
what do say is that If a voter has intelligence
enough TO discriminate wisely between rival can
uiotes and conscience enough to desire to vote ac
hal ollie,
carry MS intelligence and conscience into effect
just DIS easily as the next man may carry his ig-
80 te VI lholIerence into effect. When I speak
VI Intelligence and conscience in voting refer ~
Seiecuoh OF candidates. G., the making of a
eHo'ce' MI Blake misconstrues me and applies NV
, isuHse 10 the act of marking the ballot or reg
e. ''"' CHolce' which is a very different mat
Ter AS TO that. say that the act of marking tha
massachusetts ballot does not test the voters in
teAhsence, as Mr.. Blake mistak enly> claims saId
t iIl'' On the contrary, taking everything into
SETS b sn[ipn ana ON the average the AIassachu-
baIIo, O"ttot - as easy To mark as the New YORK
c@ ~ Is not quite easy as to vote a partH
DOutln ballot straight. but IS easy enoUeh and =
nver iy cases. and much more accurate More
Wnile under our system the education GAINED n
sacbusetts hai nay not serve for another The Mas
inc a Us Daiiot, with its simple rule of marx
[5 ald counting, would wholly eliminate the diff
Gnlties created by allowing many inherent H's, ~
ma rnd hlng and providing many highly compfSSatsd
aGes OF counting. which difficulties are i1heprent
9 Yoyk party column arrangement 0uFs IN New w
than ia Mae
form FORM puts parties canddates and Vofss o
equal footing Ito use the language oS C on an
Pa GolImn form gives advantages Of POSITION ne
1h paTtles and candidates All the axnanea -
al the agves advantages to inferior Candidates
OF superior candidates $50 does the
different which Mr sak eks5s Printed on
NiI3out cutting up 1t gives an advanfaee 5
et 49, uiIdlscr1rninating and even the vensi votar
cohsclenuous $50 does the Conna-tts anu
whoia O ,de the former kind Of voter will vote
TOR
as ne Will vote for single candiiata % III
takes no more effort r4iuAte' Il the act
thai OK the virtues OF the Massachusetts ballot "a
iSar OF choice on every office If the VOTE IS
wiling to adopt his partys choice as ana Is
IN, iuSIVe ne can without knowing or Csrfnp 49,
formed candidates and ISSUES s and well in
S4Qlhcdes with that of his party he can afso as
MS vote accordingly and the mere Iosrf aIso CAST
ballot costs precisely the same Effort ~ OF MS
WITH re ~. on me other hand. he is dissatisfied
for oberS - cholce he Is exactly free to vote
49, MI OF nai!ot Is so elastic and simple as fSe
kind of ] ballot Every other form puts some
SlLque TICKETS, without Discrimination betwea1' +6 Sa
vrits OF az rival candidates. because of the com
Sta'INe uliHcuuy or voting any other V-av ~
m r. Blake says that the Massacbuset{{s ho,,o+
home which is o even that entire satisfaction at
enthusiastiO advocates do NOT 10y US ltS most
III massachusetts, he refers. I have taken soDIa
among persons who have not uitertor T,o acton
TOT. ana as Richard Henry Dana OF Rostor -
papers and addresses on the suhiec+ s many able
town In Ma chusetts has volIfptsr5I.
towns together. large and small tLs ssr al me
SAID OF two thirds of the 900 towns In that p
system has not been adontad aItbnTsb w I'Nil Ile
are tree TO adopt for town elections am! WIS
its popularity In that 500 hiy testimonial
New York. May 4. 1907. ALBERT s FARD