The Springdale news., 1914-04-17
CHANGE DEMANDED
Effort Win Be Made to Change Sys
 tenn of Voting.
fBy <. W. Parke.)

Little Rock, April l5.-Recent de velopments in Arkansas politics have produced a demand for changes ir the state election laws, which will in sure that the will of the people pre- vail. This demand will be satisfied or there will be more clamor in the next session Of the Arkansas legis lature than is promised in the com ing state Democratic convention. The people are sore and tired of machine politics, and they believe the time ha, come when votes must be counted as they are cast There is but little doubt but that many counties of the state turned an a count in the last primary which will fall under close scrutiny-or at least, this is the opin- ion of the multitude. The people are most fair in all things, and they want the man who received the most votes to have them counted for him.
 The first step to rectify the obso- lete system Of voting, which has been in vogue in Arkansas since statehood was granted it, will be a bill which will be offered in the next General Assembly by Ben l.. Griffin, a mem- Der from Pulaski county, and one of the strongest of Clarke supporters. Representative Griffin will introduce measure, which if passed, will put voting machines ill every precinct in the state. It is true that the cost the first year will be supendous, but the first is the real cost, and the reduction in cost of primaries and elections which come later will re turn The money in few years. He will offer LII patterned after the New York law, and if it is passed, it will be possible for the result of all state elections to be announced early on the night of the election, and there will be no question about the result Accuracy in the count, as well as the saving of time and the lessening Of cost of elections, are three features which recommend the voting machine so strongly. Accuracy in the count is what the voters of Ar kansas insit upon.
 Voting machines are in the nature of booth, similar to those in use by long distance telephone companies. The machine has a set of keys with pt far fp,. didate It is impossible to punch more than once for any candidate, and it is impossible to punch for nor than one in any race. The vote is counted as it is registered by a pa per strip, something like that of a piano player. As the voter comes machine and registers his vote The voter coming in the inner door there being two to the machine-op- ems it so that he may register his vote. The two doors keep the off cials back, and insures privacy to he voter. All the judges have to do
 
 the voter. There being no chance for repeaters, the count of the ma chimes is absolutely accurate.
 It is suggested by Capt F. W. Fucker, for years chairman of the State Republican Central Committed that the plan go further and make it possible for all other parties to have primaries at the same time as the Democrats, which can be done with. out additional expense, and at the same time, do away with machine pol ltics in Republican conventions. Capt. Tucker also calls attention to the fact that such an arrangement would prevent the Republicans, Socialists, and others, from participating in Democratic primaries, a condition now deplored by all parties
 There seems to be no opposition to