Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-23
/ LO0KER.ON in IOWA

Parkersburg, April 23-In Iowa as
well as elsewhere there are Two very
pronounced opinions concerning voting
machines In this town last week an
agent for one of these voting machines
gave an exhibit in one Of the business
houses, with one of the machines, the
supervisors of the county Will be asked
to purchase. 1t seems that under the
present law, the board of supervisors
of any county can purchase a voting
machine for each voting precinct or
less number if they think best, and
this exhibit in the different towns in
the county will do much to make sale
possible. I was invited to vote, with
the machine, and as 1t was a new ex-
perience to me the way the thing
works, may be interesting to describe
for others.
AS the voter enters the booth, he
takes hold of a crank that draws the
curtain. Before him are the different
tickets inside glass and opposite each
name on all Of the tickets a lever to
turn. II the voter wishes to vote the
straight ticket. he turns the party lever
opposite the name of each party ticket.
II he wishes to scratch he pulls the
same lever, but afterwards turns lit
tie lever opposite each name. After
wards he uses these little turned down
levers against each name. Then as he
goes out the machinery pulls back the
curtain, which operates the machine
and then registers all of his votes for
the different candidates. Instead of be-
Al ~ fo wlnn
can read can be sure and vote as he
intends, and do SO sooner and with less
trouble than under the old style.
- .
Manufacturers OF voting machines
claim that:
1t compels every voter to vote In So
crecy. ssS
1t is mechanically impossible to cast
a defective ballot
1t cannot be made to yield false
result.
When voting is finished, counting is
| finished.
| Every voter counts his own ballot.
Reduces largely the cost of elections
Does away with election.contests and
recounts.
The following states have enacted
laws, legalizing the use of voting ma
chimes. New York, New Jersey, Con-
l;necticut Indiana Illinois, Maine, Mas
sachusetts, Ohio, Michigan Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska. Kansas,
! California and Utah.
Johnson county has tried the expert
ment of voting machines for incorpor-
10
them in every voting precinct. Butler
county to do the same would have to
buy II machines at $3.50 each. 1t would
seem that any county that can afford
the expense, will eventually adopt the
sytsem of voting with machines, as
these exhibits, allowing the voters to
see for themselves all of the advan-
tages Of voting by machinery and no
argument against this system but that
Of expense, are bound to make con-
verts in favor of the system, thus vir-
tually giving the county supervisors
instructions to buy large or smaller
number OF some make Of practical vot
ing machines
Parkersburg has for some time past
had a bucket shop that is a good or bad
thing for the community just as you
look at it. But with the new law in
effect the managers of it have to make
some changes. / am informed that
they will fully comply with this new
law, by using leased wire controlled
by Chicago firm, that is a member
of the board of trade. That this firm
will pay the manager of the office here
a regular salary. He will receive the
quotations from this firm and post
them as at present. He will receive
orders and take money as any clerk
does in the Chicago office. His Gus