Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-25
HANGING ELECTION LAWS.

| Middlesex county has u for feel
ing proud of the fact that although
only one vote was cast against the
Pierson election revision bill, that
vote was cast by an assemblyman from
this county, Assemblyman Devoe.
importance than most people realize.
1t knocks spots out of the so-called
Geran law under which our present
elections are held. It is. as Assembly
man DeVoe declares, a step backward
and II surely does discourage indepen-
dent thought and Independent voting.
The one outstanding feature of the
bill is the restoration of the party
column on the ballot. This means
that the names of all the Republican
candidates will be published in one
column and the names of all the
Democratic candidates will be publish
ed in another column. There also
will be separate columns for each of
the other parties that put up candi
dates. At the top of each column will
be II circle. BY merely placing an
"X' in this circle the voter car vote
the whole party ticket without even
knowing the names Of the candidates
published hereunder.
AT the present time, with the candi-
dates of all parties mixed together,
; grouped under the office for which
they are running, the voter has to
put his "X'' opposite each name for
whom he desires to vote. Thus he is
encouraged to discriminate and vote
for the individual he deems best fitted
for office regardless of party label.
The significance of the party column
method is apparent particularly in
connection with the election this fall.
In n presidential election the voter is
inclined to govern his politics entirely
by his choice for President. Local
affairs are largely ignored.
If a voter desires to cast his ballot
for the Republican candidate for
President he will look for the name of
that candidate. If there is a party
column q single tx" voting the
whole ticket, all the other candidates
In that column are likely to be voted
for on the strength of the desire to
vote for the head of the ticket.
1t has been notorious In the past
that all kinds of incompetents have
been r%ailroaded into office of local
importance merely on the strength of
having their names placed on the
same ballot or in the same column
with a popular candidate for Presi-
dent.
But as the ballot Is now arranged
1t requires q separate tx" for each
candidate so thai after voting for
President every other candidate must
be given personal consideration in vot-
ling.
1t is not surprising that a Repub-
llCdn ttBlSldluIe 10 puLlAlb
this legislation to restore the party
column to the ballot. 1t seems to be
pretty we'll agreed that the Republican
candidate or President. n matter who
he MAJ be, will receive the great ma
liority of votes this fall-at least as
far as this section of the country is
concerned. This being the case, the
Republican leaders hope that by
means of the party column and with
only q single X needed to vote for
the whole ticket, all the local Repub-
Ilican candidates. regardless of their
fitness, will be swept into office on
the strength of the popularity of the
presidential candidate.
The party column on the ballot is
an instrument of the political ma
chine" pure and simple. 1t is not
conducive to independent. thoughtful
voting.
But the Pierson bill has still other
features that shakes the present voting
methods to their foundation. 1t Is
agreed that New Jersey has had more
Independent voting and cleaner cleo
ltlons under the present Geran law than
ever before. The politicians have not
IlnSed the present method ecaus they
have found it more difficult to man
Inmate the elections thar in days o.
CID.
Tho Pierson bill, which has Just
passed the House with only Assembly
man DeVoe voting against it. now goes
to the senate. There is should be
killed. 1t Is hard enough to get honest
elections ven under the present law.
ut would be a mistake to let down the
bars in any way whatever.
Sr trUHlN EAIlNlN