The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-09-29
ONE CLEAN Election

II. Nj. Glenn. city editor of the
Charleston Evening Post, who has
been visiting relatives In Anderson
county, says that the people of Char
lesion are greatly pleased with the
new election law there. II has been
recommended for general use through
out South Carolina.
A year ago in the special election
for congressman there was awful
talk, tn fact the scandal was taken
| TO congress and the report theron
| seemed to indicate that one side had
Just cheated less than the other 1t
has long notorious that the names of
dead men were kept on the Charles
ton democratic club rolls, and the
names of foreigners who are not nat
rallied citizens also cluttered up
the rolls. This condition gave every
opportunity for fraud in elections.
But there has been no cry of fraud,
no allegation of trickery as an out
| come OF the recent spirited election in
Charleston.
The Australian ballot system as
adopted to govern the voting in the
primary elections In the city of Char
lesion was the product Oi the brain
Of Leland Moore II was the result OF
years OF study and investigation. 1t
kaated as the flying wedge TO break up
illegal voting In the metropolis OF this
State.
The rules require that the voting
places must be reputable places. None
are allowed in saloons. The voting
booth were provided with guard rails
so that none but the voter could ap-
proach the box and no no one could
get within FIVE feet OF the voter.
The booth into which the voter was
taken to prepare the ballot was c
feet. six inches high. SO inches deep,
with q curtain over the front and a
shelf on which the voter could pre-
pare his ticket.
ALI ballots were numbered and the
managers OF election were under SOL
emn oath to protect the ballots. The
voter was given not more than five
minutes to- prepare his ticket. The
voter then presented himself before
the managers tore OFF the number of
his ballot, stamped the vote part OF
lthe ballot and let the voter deposit
1t. II a voter marcel or defaced al
ballot, he had to o9return It before he
could get another. "a
The following is very important
ssE.san ef the sAw: !.NkI
v. No person shall be allowed
within the guard rail except as is
hereinbefore provided. II vuter
cannot read nor write or is physical-
iy disabled and by reason thereof,
did not sign his own application, he
may appeal TO the managers for as
distance. and the chairman of the
watchers representing different fac
tions to assist him In preparing his
ballot. After the voters ballot has
been prepared the watchers SO ap-
pointed shall go; Immediately behind
the guard rail.
Booths were supplied at each ,,oll-
ing place for every 100 names or ma
jority faction thereof on the club
rolls. 4
Every precautton was taken to pre-
serve the secrecy OF the ballot and at
the same time to prevent, the voter
from being approached. annoyed, or
intimidated. The law WAS very strict
as 70 who were ) entitled to hang
around while the votes were being
counted. Certain delegates watch
ers's f6rseandidateG we're permitted but
Ethe general public wast excluded.
1T IN conceded to have been the
Icleanest and faireat election ever
held In the city OF Charleston. The
people cianored TOR an honest elec-l
tion--and get. The urging OF the
club sos.a befofe the pririary showed
many startling things among these
being that names oa the club rolls
had been taken from the hotAl raria-
tera and tombstones. However. the
enrolment system In Charleston
needs perfecting.
Leland Moore believes that the ball
lot is one OF the greatest gifts OF al
State. He believes that the vote
should be above suspicion. .srhe eiec-
tion laws in South Carolina,'i said
hir. Moore. "are lax and loose iointei.
Thess ara the worst OF any state In
the United States, The elections as
rule are conducted III; the crudest
possible manner and I don't see how
anybody wogth anything has ever
been electoa 70 an Office In South