The San Francisco call., 1909-07-18
MORE REASONS
FOR USING THE
MYSTIC MARKS
Good Government League Tells
Why Figures Were Hid
den Under Stamps
Circular Says Symbols We're
Employed to Detect Fraud
ulent Ballots"

The Good Government league has at
last issued to the voters an explanation
of its recent action in placing Identify
ing marks under the stamps of the re-
turn envelopes sent out with its 'peo-
pies ballot"
The circular states that the secret
markings We're used to detect fraudu-
lent ballots and fraudulent registra-
tion.
The ballots win be counted in the
assembly hall of the Pacific building
Wednesday. July p. beginning at 1850
o'clock p. m Voters are invited TO
witness the count. Here is the eircu-
lar letter:
San Francisco. July 1s. 1903
Dear Sir: In an honest endeavor to
give voters an opportunity to express
their preferences for candidates for
office at the next municipal election,
| the good government league recently
addressed to all voters letters inclosing
ballots and stamped return envelopes
Under each stamp was an Identification
mark. In adopting this system the
league had in mind the protection of
the voters, the prevention of fraud
and the safeguarding of the interests
of the city only.
METHODS NOT IMPROPER
The anti good government and pro-
graft press pursued its consistent pol
icy, which is to misrepresent every
move made in the interests of good
government. and certain other papers
and many intelligent people were led
to believe that the league had en-
ployed improper methods. We do not
| feel called upon to offer a defense
against the vile insinuations of the
purchased press. but in view of their
attack we do feel that an explana-
tion should be made to you and to all
other honest citizens. and to those
newspapers which have been misled
In the first place. it is plain that
without identification marks of some
kind many thousands of fraudulent
ballots might have been mailed to US
thus defeating the end sought. l. e., an
expression of the popular will This
has been done by enemies of good gov
ernment elsewhere, notably in Los An
geles. In the second place. this method
Will enable US speedily to handle unde-
livered letters and quickly TO trace
false registration
OBJECT OF MARKS
The objection to placing the identi-
fication mark upon the ballot itself
instead of upon the envelope was two
fold First. it would have enabled cor
rupt politicians easily and quickly to
work out and use upon ballots of their
own making our method of Identified
ti9n; second. it would have indicated
the name of the individual who voted
each ballot
BY placing the identification mark
under the stamp we have the only
system which will prevent both dupu-
cation by forgery and false voting.
Ballots and envelopes may be dupIi-
Gated but the least tampering with
stamp once adhered is instantly appar-
ent Notwithstanding the identification
marks the secrecy of the ballot itself
is insured and the identity of the voter
who does not care to sign his name is
lost.
In order to preserve the secrecy of
the ballot. we have adopted the follow
ing method for canvassing the returns.
BY first removing the stamp we deter
mine that the ballot fnelosed it that
of voter we have addressed. and
therefore valid. After ascertaining
that the return envelope and eonse-
quently the ballot ineIosed are genu-
inc. we will open the envelope. take
out the ballot. place it TO one side
and destroy the envelope before un-
folding the ballot thereby making it
impossible to identify any voter who
has not cared to sign his name. Thus
it will be apparent that as soon as a
ballot has been separated from the
envelope in this manner it's Identity is
lost forever. The ballots will be
counted Immediately after the last en-
4 velope shall have been destroyed
INVITED TO COUNT
The count of the ballots will be held
in the assembly hall of the Pacific
building Wednesday. July 21. begin
ming at 1890 O'Clock p. m.
You are invited to witness the count
in order that you may know that the
ballot system adopted by the good
government league was fair and
wholly in your interest; also that YOU
may fully understand that the pur-
chased press. in endeavoring to con-
fuse your mind. is obeying the old
machine power, the breaking of which
is your most important duty. Respect
fully.
GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.
/