Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-05

from Cumberland, Mr.. Looney. moves
that in Senate Document No. 2S7 Re-
port B be accepted and that question
is now the pending question before the
Senate.
Mr.. LOONEY: Mr. President:
Senate Document No. 2S7 provides for
two changes in our election laws: first,
as to the form of the ballot; and
second, as to the method of voting.
BY its terms, the names are to be
arranged on the official ballot alpha
betically, by candidates. not grouped
by parties. After each candidate is
printed the name of the official or poll
teal designation, or party to which he
belongs and the voter simply makes
a mark to the right of each candidate
of his choice.
Now this, in brief and in substance.
is the Massachusetts system. By the
terms of our present law, which in this
discussion / shall call the Maine sys-
TEN, the candidates are grouped on the
official ballot by parties; and the voter.
if he desires to vote the straight ticket,
makes a mark in the space over the
party group. If he desires to vote 4
split ticket, he either grasses the name
If the candidate on the party group or
he places Il sticker over the name
Erased, or writes under in the appro-
ornate space the name of the candidate
Of his choice Now, if the Sticker is
not properly placed, or if the name is
lot correctly written, the voter loses
his ballot for that candidate, or candi-
iates If the name is properly placed
,tol Inv .ti if
t is properly written and still a cross
s not made in the space over the
rartv group, then the elector loses
lis vote for the entire ticket. in other
words, he is disfranchised. This.
Gentlemen Of the Senate, is the diff
ference between the Massachusetts
system and the Maine system. The
distinction and the difference between
the two is apparent. The one, The
Massachusetts system is simple. easy
% understand and within the compre-
lension of the most untutored voter.
The other. the Maine system, is intri-
cate. complicated and confused. by
one the voter prepares his own ballot:
it represents his deliberate judgment.
BY the other the ballot is prepared, not
oy the voter primarily, but by the
party which is the genitor, or the
political convention. BY the terms OF
one, the Massachusetts system, intell-
gent, conscientious, Independent W.
ng is encouraged. BY the other, the
Maine system, intelligent and con-
,cientious voting is discouraged. The
)ne, the Massachusetts system, is in
harmony with the spirit and genius Of
INF while tho other the
Iaine system, is opposed to it.
1 believe that the people of Maine
lesire that their elections be regulated
Nv the Australian system. The Massa-
.husetts ballot is the most perfect
adaptation of that system to American
Methods that has yet been devised;
While the Maine system is counter
cit presentment' OF the same. III
Senate Documents Nos. 2S6 and 2S7
re enacted, the elections hereafter
will be regulated by the Simon pure
Australian system. The bill which l
lad the honor of introducing in the
legislature of 1889 was the Massa-
,husetts system changed in few
PARTICULARS SO as to conform to local
conditions. That bill received IS
lotes in the House and the vote was
wen in the Senate. In 1891 the
legislature enacted the so-called Clay
son Bill. Under that bill two systems
we're combined, or We're attempted to
)e combined. on the official ballot:
What is termed the Belgian or Indiana
ystem and the Massachusetts system.
that is to say. the voter if he desired
vote the straight ticket made one
mark over the party group: if he de-
;ired to vote a split ticket, he omitted
hat. mark and made q mark to the
light of each candidate of his choice.
chs attempt to combine two systems
IN the same ballot resulted. as the
riends of the Australian system pre-
licted it would result, in confusion and
disaster. At the election in 1892 there
we're thousands of defective ballots
md thousands of voters who were dis
franchised.
The Legislature Of 1893, at it's closing
hours, without any public notice with
nut any intimation even to the friends
If the secret ballot that the change
vas being contemplated. at the
eleventh hour of the session surrepsi-
tiously railroaded through the Legisa-
ure the present abortion called the
Australian system; and that apology
FOR the Australian system has since
regulated the conduct of elections in
this State.
! am opposed to the present Maine
,ystcm, because it is not the Australian
'ys'em of voting. By the provisions
Il the Australian system the voter in
licatcs his choice upon each candidate
eparately that is to say. each candi-
late upon the ballot is subjec: to the
voters scrutiny and deliberate judg
nent. This is the law in the different
PROVINCES Of Australia. in Great Brit
lin, in Ireland and in the different
PROVINCES of Canada and the nations
ii continental Europe. I believe there
: only one nation in Europe where the
iames are grouped by parties on the
JfiClal ballot. and that is in Belgium.
IN Bavaria where we are wont to
think the people are ignorant. so far
loes the nation insist that the voter
shall represent his deliberate. con-
scientous act and Judgment, that the
law provides that upon the official bal
lot every voter shall write out the
candidates of his choice.
Every State in the Union. with the
exception of two, North and South