Evening journal., 1913-01-06
MONDAY. JAN. 6 1918.
REPUBmcANs TRUE TO rHEIR PROMISES.

THE EVENING JOURNAL enjoys today the exclusive
privilege of laying before the people of Delaware
bill prepared under the direction of the Republican
State Committee bring about the enactment of sim
plihed ballot law and repeal OF the existing Voters
Assistant law. We commend IT to the careful perusal
of everyone believing that IL will meet with general
commentator aud that the Democratic House VIII
with the Republican Senate in the passage Of the
bin and that it viii hc approved by Governor Miller
may be that more mature consideration will suggest
the trainers OF the important amendments
make It perfect If that should be the case
have doubt but that those amendments viii be made
the sole aim of the Republican State Committee is to
supply the state a law that will enable the qualified
their ballots inclligenty easily, and
the time. that will prevent the preparation
Of fraud against the ballot and give Of fair
count and true returns.
One OF the important and interesting parts OF
the bill is Section 90 which ropeals absolutely
sDg Voters Assistant law and defines the method by
which assistance shall be given anyone who unable
because of physical disability. prepare and fold his
ballot II viii be that the voter ncapacitatcd
permitted to selecth bis assistant or assistants
from outside ana that there is absolutely restriction
upon that personal selection severe penalty is pre-
scrbed for anyone who obtains assistance by egnng
incapacity
Tho iiberalty of the proposed law Is such that
iliterae VIII need any assistance the voting
place for the that ne may go there anyone
outside and ofhcal ballot and take it his home
it before going the voting booth fold it aud
place il in the envelope preparatory having drop
Ped into the ballot box. Fifty hundred of bis
friends may assist him to mark his ballot. or he may
60 Il at his hresde with his wife and children for
assistants consutans The provisions relative to the
marking OF the ballot also so liberal that there is
little likelihood Of any man being stupid snoi
his ballot viii be thrown the count As an
additional safeguard the law gives to the election off
the right TO the intent Of the voter when
holl hat fa pof t,Ir 70
they the intent OF the voter the ballot
is counted II not it is placed in envelope kept
with others of the sort to passed upon later
Under the system proposed the official ballot will be as
free the sample ballots under the exist
ing law.
The county chairmen viii be able to obtain from the
Clerks OF the Peace prior the election all the official
ballots they want and may distribute them broadcast
if they desire to do long as they pay them
The only jurisdiction the election officers over the
ballots is that when the voter comes in with
one prepared after he has prepared in the voting
place he desires to do that he folds IT, any old way
places il in an unseaed official envelope that is given
him and delivers it to the election officers be deposit
ed in the box
The the present blanket ballot is continued un
der the BILL the only difference being that squares are
ruled of in front of the names Of the candidates so
the voter may mark within such squares should he
desire to cut his ticket He may mark his ballot with
either ordinary black lead pencil or an indehble
Nbtli
by making a within the square containing the
device at The head of the ticket II he to vote
scratch ticket he may mark the ticket OF his choice at
the top and then put opposite the name of the
candidate on another ticket for whom he desires to
vote or he may put cross in front of every candidate
on his regular party ticket except one for whom
be does not care to vote and then put in front
of the of the candidate on the other ticket for
whom he desires If he desires he may scratch
out the name OF the candidate against whom he desires
to vote IT, Of all the candidates on the blanket bal
lot, he desires to vote for only man. he may do il
by marking in front the name OF that candi-
date and refrainug from putting any mark at the head
OF Of the tickets II he fails to put any mark in the
square at the top Of ticket and yet places cross op
posite the OF every candidate on ticket IL
counts, just the There is ample provision to
prevent the throwing of encre ballot in event the
voter through error, votes for candidates for the
office II the election officers unable TO reach
agreement the intent the voter with respect
10 that duplication. the only effect viii be that his
vote viii be counted for neither the candidates but
the balance OF his ballot will be counted
Under this BILL If a desires to vote and has not
prepared his ballot home somewhere else prior to
going to the polling place. he goes into the polling
place. announces his and for a ballot He
receives and asked by the inspector he is ready to
vote II he he is not he is permitted to take his
ballot to another part OF the to his home or
elsewhere. to mark it, When he has done So he re-
turns TO the polling place gives his and address
to the election officers and the clerk hands TO him an
official and ungummed envelope Upon its face these
words printed Ofcia envelope for Representative
District No. . lt also has on it the date Of
the election and signed by the twrcerks Of the cleo
ton The clerks keep those enyeopes signed ahead and
the precaution is taken with respect to them as
is taken with respect the official ballots None
ballot and envelope in hand the repairs to a secret