Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-04
MACHINES ARE PULLING
Such is the Opinion of Those Ad.
dressed on the Subject.
ARE ALTOGETHER TOO COMPLEX
General Opinion Is that Voter is Not
Given = Good Opportunity 10 Ex-
press His real Choice OF
Candidates.

There rs general Indignation amons
voeers Of both parties over the fact that
voting machines are to be used in the
forthcoming election. Despite the fact that
achne idea was initiated by the demo-
Gratis. many members Of that party join
with republicans in denouncing such cum
bersome method Of balloung.
II intended voting a mixed ticket this
year" said a West Farnam street repub-
lcsn, but now that we have that ma
chine saddled upon us, ! shall certainly
vote a straight republican ticket. Come 10
think OF 1t, the ticket will bear close in
specton and this machine business is too
much for me. Here's the idea: The demo-
Crsts are under the impression that Dahl
man Is going to sweep Douglas county by
a big majority-they're wrong about that,
but they really believe it-and they are at
the same time very doubtful about the
balance Of the ticket. Therefore, they rea-
sOned that by thrustng the machine sys-
tenn upon the people, voters wanting to
vote for Dahlman and scratch other names
on the ticket In favor Of republicans, will
be prevented by intricacies OF the machine
! from so dolng-consequenty, they figure
| that straight democratic ticket will be
cast by the machine, whereas the voter
! himself really wants to vote mixed
I NANheNa 4 HhA p NllN iihlA ltuoOA WY NiAN
democrats made fight to have the ma
chine used"
! Many callers at the court house have
examined the machine which Is on exhibit
| ton there, and It Is generally agreed that
it Is n cumbersome, intricate piece Of ma
! chinery, easily thrown out of repair and
in no sense adapted to the casting Of
! ballots. In fact every voter ought TO take
a correspondence course in mechanics be-
! fore attempting to cast his ballot, for there
is not one man out of a dozen who can
! quickly solve the problem OF how to ma
nipulate the machine. OF course 1t can
be learned, but the learning takes time
when consideration is given to the vast
number Of voters requiring information as
to how to work the levers and other parts
of the machine Ignorant men have nc
opportunity at all to know how they are
voting and many an intelligent man does
, not happen to be apt in the quick solution
OF mechanical problems.
Voter Gets NO Chance.
The elemental objection to the voting
machines" said a former county official
who was connected with the county boar
when the machines were ordered into com
mission. rs that they do not give TO tn
voter the same chance for careful votinj
as does the paper ballot. Every voter vii
, realize what 1 mean when / say the mai
within the machine curtain gets the notiol
, he has been there much longer than i
, really the case. Nervousness Is the frs
and most Objectionable result Of going be
hind the curtain As rule a line of mel
is waiting outside, and II the voter hest
tates, desiring to vote a split ticket, h
e is urged TO hurry up; you're keeping
r lot Of men waiting here. This urging rat
r ties a man, no matter how phlegmatic hi
$ nerves and In seven cases out OF Tel
), he will let the thing lay for a straigh
ticket, rather than try to vote his rea
sentiments"
well. that's true" admitted Judge c
election who heard the expression 30
course this machine way is easiest 10
U.S. because il saves the board a lot q
bother, but / have noted In the election
where the machines were used that tn
/ men who can quickly and satsfactoril
n split their tickets on the machine ar
!, mighty scarce. Some voters can neve
e learn the trick, to Judge from somewh1
+ extended observation The next genera
/ ton may be able TO vote intelligent!
n quickly and satisfactorily with the ms
chimes, but when we cut out the papt
u ballot we upset the Orderliness and III
"a consideration that should accompany III
\, casting of what I would call an educate
p ballot with the names on a sheet
paper voters take their own time and the
u get the exact results they want; with Il
machines they do not. And too, amend
~ ments are not likely 10 get anything IN
the consideration on the machines tn,
=, they do on the paper ballot, and that's
= very serious objection"