The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-06

Proposition
Don't think for one minute that the voting
machine proposition is dead forever.
Don't feel for second that you, Mr.. Citizen
can now proceed to forget that the question OF
voting machines ever raised in Wayne
county
The situation is this, namely, that the ordi
nance that was passed by less than the legally
required jOrity by the county council the first
of the week is no longer operative.
Another ordinance might be drafted anc
passed to take the place of the just lost. A
majority of the county commissioners might ask
the county council for another appropriation anC
the required majority of five members of the
might vote to pass such special ordinance
at special session of the council In that case
the cause of the people, who simply asking
for delay and investigation, would be lost.
So keep alive and be awake. Let the mem
bers of the county council and the board of COM
missioners know that you, the citizens, want
this question thrashed out in the open; that you
want a full investigation; that you want star
chamber sessions; that your voices have more
right to be heard than those of Davis, Freeman,
Nicholson or special committee members of the
Commercial Club-Haas.
The Palladium today publishes a complete
analysis of the costs of holding registrations and
elections under the present Australian ballot
system with sc precincts and with the voting ma
chimes in % precincts
THE PALLADIUM CLAIMS TO PROVE
THAT THE COST OF THE MACHINE SYSTEM
WILL BE MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOL
LARS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE PRES
ENT SYSTEM.
The Palladium will shortly publish the results
of the investigation going on in the State of
Illinois as to voting machines. This investiga-
ton has been repete with statements about the
voting machine interests offering large sums of
money for influential support for getting their
machines to supplant the old voting system
there. 1t has been marked by charges claimed
to have been substantiated of crookedness on the
part of the machines in that they can be manipu-
lated and votes lost stolen.
Let us get all this information before the pub
lie before adopt voting machines in Wayne
county.
For many of us, our votes are our most
precious possession. They our only weapons
in the great fight going in this republic
against the powerful, corrupt and degrading
money power. Where the criminal millionaire
fights us with all the power of concentrated dol
lars we fight back with all the power of concen-
trated votes.
AND THE VOTES, IF HONESTLY COUNT
ED ARE GOING TO VANQUISH AND OVER
THROW THE DOLLARS OF THE MONEY
POWER.
IF THE MACHINES CAN BE MANIPU-
LATED THEN THE DOLLARS WIN OUT.
Under the Australian ballot system where
every recognized party has it's watchers present
when the votes are counted and the two domi-
nant parties provide the clerks and judges and
sheriffs, there is such division of interests that
the chances for manipulation minimized
With the machines doing the voting and the
counting WELL out of sight of everyone, those
chances, We contend, are not small.
So help us fight for delay. Help us get time
for complete investigation. The Palladium will
make investigation that is investigation
1t will not accept this or that mans statement
simply because he is pleasant gentleman or
happens to be a county officer in some boss's
bailiwick. 1t will go to the root of the whole
question and the evidence it presents will be con-
elusive enough for all who care to form a logical
and honest opinion of the merits drawbacks
to voting machines.
A Reunion of Survivors