The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-08-03
THE SECRET BALLOT CAUCUS.
Representative 4. Johnson. Of Clarke,
Tells How the BalIOtihg was Done
an Answer e Hi. Percy.


Editor of The Leader have
heard Mr. Percy and others defend
the secret ballot caucus in this
manner: They say no man would
lbribe member Of the Legislature
unless he had some means by which
he could be certain the member, !
latter receiving the brihe, would
vote as he was paid to vote; there
fore be contends that where each
member votes secretly, it would be
| possible for him to receive money
or other bribe to vote for d certain
candidate and then go in the booth
land vote against the party who had
bought him. This is a good argu-
ment and may deceive anyone who
is used to voting in our general
elections, where each voter goes iii
the booth by himself and makes out
This ticket, folds it up and votes;
but it will not deceive anyone who
was present and understands how
the voting was done ii the caucus.
You know that in the caucus our
names were called alphabetically
and about four or five would 60 up
to vote at the same time, and it
was no trouble for one member to
liet any Of the other members who
were voting at the same time see
how he voted, thereby having a
witness as to who he voted for. /
remember that when. the secretary
would reach the J's that he would
lcall Johnston, Of Clark. Johnston,
of Coahona, and Johnson of Pam.
| lola. at the same time. We went
lup to the desk, and as we did not
care who knew how we voted we
| Just marked our tickets openly;
ANYONE present looking on SO that
lat would be easy for either Of us to
swear how the others voted, or the
clerk who gave out the tickets
could easily see how any one voted;
PROVIDED THE MEMBER WISH
ED HIM TO SEE. OF course,
where a member did not wish the
clerk or anyone else to know how
he.v voted, he could conceal his tick
ct under the screen (made of books
and make his ticket and fold it and
not let anybody know now he voted.
So you see, Mr.. Editor, the Sc.
lcret ballot was all right. If a
lmember wished to deceive his con-
lstituents. he could then use the.
book screen and no one could say
how he voted; but suppose he had
promised to vote for certain
candidate and that candidate want
Led proof that he had kept his
promise: all that was necessary
was for the candidate to have one
lof his friends whose name corn-
menced with same letter as the
name Of the party he wished to
watch, or letter next to it, 60 up
and mark his ticket at the same
time, then he would have the proof
as to how the party voted.
By securing certain positions in.
the galleries with an opera glass,
1T was possible to spy out how a
caucus member marked his ballot,
unless he took extraordinary pre-
caution to conceal it, and it is
alleged this was done by persons at
various times who occupied the
gallery.
So you see the secret ballot was
no good to any member who might
promise to vote for one candidate
and then try to vote for another,
hut he could easily tell the people
at home that he would vote one
Wayssand vote another.
am not accusing any member
lof selling his vote, but just wish
| to show that If aiy votes were
bought by any candidate, it was
mo trouble for him to have one OF
This friends present to see that the
goods were delivered.
A. JOHNSTON.
Shubuta. Miss, July 70. 1910.
i