The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1908-10-19

That the people of Mesa county
may know what they are up against
on election day and that there is
grave danger of innumerable irregul-
arities at the election here and that
there is danger of many voters being
disfranchised. The Sentinel repro
duces in part the testimony and
Aliens court Friday and Saturday,
as follows:
This much has been shown: That
the voter cannot vote on the machine
in one minute. as required by law;
that there is not sufficient time in
which to instruct the voters; and.
finally, that no effort has been made
to furnish such instruction.
Devices Complicated.
Explanation of the Dean voting
machine was made so that the court
might see how it worked and decide
whether it could be utilized at the
coming election.
John S. Fillmore. agent for the
Dean machine. though man of con-
siderable abdominal wealth managed
to get around at a pretty lively rate
during the maneuvers. The machine,
which at little distance looks like
cooking range with a buggy top
over it, behaved itself with modesty
of the exhibitor and his accomplice.
who was billed for this performance
as Judge of Election"
The court had listened closely
while Attorney Giles, who represents
W. T. Davoreen, who asks for an in
junction restraining the county com
missioners and county clerk from
causing the Dean machine to be used
no at..er 81
witness, Fillmore, to find out what
efforts have been made 70 instruct
the voters of Denver in the use of
the machines.
| After much objecting the fact was
elicted from MIR. Fillmore that only
three machines had been on exhibit
! ton and that the records of these
/ showed that they had been operated
or voted" on, exactly 200 times
in the aggregate
There is nothing to indicate how
many persons voted on them, is
there?"
mo sir"
might have been all done by one
man. as far as the machines show.
mightn't it?"
No Models for Voters.
1T might" the witness admitted.
1t was also ELECTED that no work
/ ing models of the machine had been
supplied to voters, as required by
law, and no efforts to instruct voters.
outside of the the use of the ma
chimes mentioned, had been made.
The witness said the machines, or
working models, ought to be at the
disposal of the voters six weeks or
two months previous to an election
and that there was not time now to
instruct the voters of Denver before
election day. November 3.
The court wanted to know just
how much a voter had to learn before
he could play the instrument of $50
stops, keys and other attachments.
and Mr.. Fillmore proceeded to dem
onstrate.
Now. this, your honor. is the lever
that must be thrown from left to
right" said he taking hold of the
handle which sticks about half way
down the side. but you can't throw
it over until the Judge of election,
who stands at the back side, pulls up
another lever releasing the one in
front-now pull" he added, turning
to the Judge of election"
The ]. of f. obliged and Fillmore
lifted the lever. You must throw 1t
clear over. you see, your honor"
His honor nodded He saw.
| NOW II you want to vote
straight Republican ticket. for in
stance. you turn this'-he applied
his thumb and forefinger to one of
the little doodads near the top
then throw your lever back where
it was. you see-like this, And there
yau are. You've voted.
Have -" said the court; but
suppose | want to vote a split tick
et?"
We'll, that's easy. only it takes a
trifle longer. It's done this way"
He took hold of the lever again
and said to the judge of election
Release this lever. pull up your
lever"
The judge of election did his duty
You first turn the lever over as
before. Then you turn this back. a:
before, that votes you straight Re
, publican as before. but there are
! some on the ticket you wish e
scratch. Very well. You press dowr
the buttons opposite the names o
t those you wish to vote for and pull
r up the corresponding buttons attach
t ed to the names of those you wisl
to vote against-this way"
There's nothing in the machine
itself. or attached to it. by which ;
voter may learn TO vote without aid
is there" queried the court.
No. the witness answered, Their
was nothing of that kind. The judg
OF election must instruct
And If you want to vote a scratch
ed ticket. you must ask the judge
| how to do it,"