The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-01-02

4 SiSdC O0dL CuuL is very inter-
esting. The word is of Italian
derivation and means a ball in the
original, but in these days and in
the settlement of our political cues
lions it means a little or big piece
of paper on which are written the
names of candidates for public Office
or questions relating to constitu-
ticnal amendments or legislative
propositions with which the people
who are qualified to vote render
their Judgment.
The ballot is called 'the modern
method Of secret voting employed in
political, legislative and judicial as
semblies and also in private clubs
and corporations, but, as a matter
OF fact, it is as old as Greece and
Rome and antedates the historical
period.
In Rome, 139 years before the
Christian era, magistrates were
elected by ballot; little later
judges We're chosen, and a little la
ter still the people voted upon the
enactment Of repeal of laws. That
was one of the earliest signs of the
Bull Moose in politics, and every
body knows what happened to Rome
Of that day.
In Great Britain, as early as
Charles H., written ballots were
used, and i'll the Scots Parliament
as early as 1862 ballots were written
IN disguised hands for the ostracism
OF undesirable persons who were out
or touch with the political powers.
I'D secret voting was adopted
IN ~ dment to protect it's men,
the power of the crown,
since there has ben a hid
Ct1- 4oIce in the printed secret bal
lot which has preserved the rights
OF the English people and assured
the prosperity of England.
N America the first elections were
viva voce; but the plan Of voting by
written ballot made it's way thither
from England to Virginia in the
time of the Virginia Company, by
which, early in the Seventeenth cen
fury, the Democratic ballot box was
introduced in place of viva voce vot-
ing, and that was the initial appear
ance Of the ballot box in this new
world.
After ten years the plan was per
manently adopted" as the story
SUES DuI IH6TG ndQ DSon so nanV
irregularities in the election OF bur-
gesses by subscribing of hands con-
trary to warrant" that in 1916 an
act was passed forbidding the use
OF handwriting and imposing a fine
on those who did not appear to vote.
many Of the voters having voted by
proXy-a plan which readily lent it.
self to much abuse, doubtless, Just
as the more modern but none the
less rcprehensibIe and dangerous
practice Of using the dead men in
the grayeyards has been resorted to
IN time Of great political stress.
In 1775 ballots were used in New
England, in Pennsylvania, Delaware
and the Carolinas. In 1776 the pa
per ballot was used in New Jersey
and in 1878 in New York.
When the United States Consti-
tuition was adopted viva voce voting
obtained only in Maryland, Georgia,
and Virginia. In 1846, Maryland,
Georgia and Arkansas adopted the
paper form of ballot. In 1848, Hi
nois adopted this plan of voting. 1t
was not until 1850 that Missouri
adopted generally the paper ballot,
and Virginia stuck to the viva voce
style Of voting despite the original
experiments made with the written
ballot in the early days of that colo
ny, until 1869. Kentucky continued
viva voce voting till 1919. At first
the b9 1lOtS waro JU,ittnn hv +bo yO+