Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-05
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Two.)

ballots which were thrown out III
Kennebec County, were thrown out, or
existed in other parts of the state
then upon that basis we would come
to the conclusion that over 4,ooo
ballots, totally defective, were thrown
in Maine at the election in 1916. In
other words, over 1000 voters were
disfranchised by this ballot. This IS
not a unreasonable assumption, De-
cause in my judgment the voters OF
Kennebec county are as intelligent ana
understand their political rights as
well as the voters in any county OF the
State.
Some three weeks before the Legis-
lature convened / wrote letters to the
clerks of the different cities of the
State and to the different towns OF
Cumberland County, requesting m
formation, first: as to the number OF
ballots which were totally defective
that were thrown at the election last
September; and second: the NUMBER
of ballots which were thrown when
were partially defective. In nearly
every instance I received courteous
answer to my request, but from some
reason or other the clerks had no re-
cord Of the number of ballots when
were partially defective. From the
table which have in my hand it ap-
pears that in the City of Biddeford
there were AZ votes which were totally
defective; in Bangor 1913; in Auburn
so; in Lewiston 40; in the Town OF
Scarboro, where there was contest,
there were 66 votes partially defective
and 10 votes totally defective. In
other words, in the cities and towns
from which / received answers from
their clerks, there were 500 defective
ballots thrown, that is, votes when
were totally defective. The vote
thrown in those cities and towns was
2S,134. In other words, about 2fo OF
the votes were totally defective in
those cities and towns. If the same
average held in the other parts of the
State. which it is not unreasonable to
presume, then about 5000 ballots
which were totally defective We're
thrown at the election last September
and 1000 voters were DISTINGUISHED
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Will the
Senator permit a question
Mr.. LOONEY: Certainly.
Mr.. STAPLES: What year are you
speaking of?
Mr.. LOONEY: 190s,-the vote of
last September.
In the City of Portland, at the last
State election, 10000 votes, or to be
more accurate, 1885 votes were
thrown. The City Clerk tells me that
2 per cent. of those votes were totally
defective and IS per cent. We're par
tially defective. In one ward OF the
city of Portland 1916 votes were cast
and PAS were partially defective. IN
other words, as I said IS per cent. OF
the votes thrown in the city OF Port
land was defective. or about 1870 Vot-
ers in Portland lost their ballots for
some candidates. If the same average
was kept up in other parts of the state
we reach the conclusion that at the
State election last September, over
26 600 voters in the State of Maine
lost their ballots as to some of the
candidates. Inasmuch as the election
last September was in a Presidential
year there were not SO many contests
as at the average election; and 1t is
not unreasonable to assume that the
voters as a rule voted the straight
ticket; and where there was a contest,
as in the case of the town OF Scar
boro, then we find a large number OF
defective ballots.
Rev. Mr. Pearson was elected sheriff
and l am always glad that L voted
for him, though a straight Republican
there were some 60 defective ballots.
Is it uIrea sonable to say that this
Wholesale disfranchisement OF the Vo-
tors of Maine by this ballot is truly
alarming--that it is positive proof that
there is some thing radically wrong and
defective in our present ballot system,
ard that it il the imperative duty OF
this Legislature to remedy the evil, To
solve the problem, either by the enact
ment of this law, or by the enactment
of some other. [ an. not an alarmiSt.
but l predict that if this system is not
changed, and if at the next election 1911
the margin of the gubernatorial vote IS
less than 1000, that there will be con-
tested election cases for governor, for
members of the Legislature and for
county offices, so bitter. so acrimOni-
Gus and so protracted as to bring the
State almost upon the border of rev.
olution American freemen value the
inalienable rights of suffrage too high
~, regard lHCIIl DIS tOO SttClcu " IleiNF
those rights destroyed and nullified by
Il fraudulent scheme like the Maine
ballot law. In marked contrast to the
Maine system is the Massachusetts
system. AS far as l can learn, the
Massachusetts ballot law is perfectly
acceptable to the voters of that state
and IS satisfactory to all parties. Re-
public, Democrat, Socialist and Prohi-
bitioniSt.
Mr.. STAPLES: Will the senator per-
nit question?
Mr.. LOONEY: Certainly.
Mr.. STAPLES: Do you know, under
the Massachusetts System, the Austria
liam ballot system, what the percentage
of votes is there which are defective?
Mr.. LOONEY: / am about to touch
upon that, il you will pardon me few
moments.
Some time before the Legislature con-
vened, / had an interview with the AS
sistant Secretary of State of Massachu
sets, who is the ballot expert of that
state, and the Chairman of the cleo
ton commission of the City of Boston.
Both of those gentlemen assured me
that not only was the Massachusetts
system acceptable to the people of that