The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1929-02-01

There has been much talk of the
Australian or secret ballot in North
Carolina for good many years. o.
Max Gardner has espousins it for
eight years. Josiah William Bailey
made it one of the planks in his
platform in 1924 and Mclean fol-
lowed with a declaration in favor OF
it. But nothing ever came OF 1t.
Nothing was to be said against IL
openly, but the old line politicians
generally were against it. Senator
Simmons was against it. Had not
the cohorts of the mighty Simmons
boasted that given a precinct with
so many as twelve Democratic voters
and 200 registered Negro Repub!i-
cans. the ballot box in that pre-
cinct could be made to return
Democratic majority of 2l5 votes?
But Max Gardner was never
Simmons man. His famed father
in-law Judge Jim Webb attended TO
Simmons. Judge Webb was boss OF
the Ninth District and Simmons
man. Simmons could not dispence
with Judge Webb and could not Of
fend him. And so Max took the
other side. There's nothing like
being on all sides at once and III
position to make trade. And SO
while the father -in-law Judge Webb
held Simmons cards in the Ninth,
Max sought other alignmentS.
Father-in-law and son-in-laW had
things sewed UP.
In his progressive meanderings o.
Max Gardner ran with large cie-
ment In North Carolina who were
demanding renovation OF our dis
graceful election laws. He came out
for the Australian ballot. The old
politicians smiled. They thought
nothing would come of 1t. II an
effort were ever made to translate
it into law. If could be killed in the
General Assembly.
This year Max Gardner became
Governor and upon his recolnmen-
dation a bill to enact a secret bal
lot law was promptly introduced in
the General Assembly. Promptly the
old timers led by r. A. Doughton,
Commissioner Of Revenue, got busy.
In the State Senate is Carlisle Hig-
gins, of Sparta, law partner of
Commissioner Doughton. Higgins
adroitly stacked the senate sub-com-
mittee on elections and the work OF
emaSculating the Australian ballot
bill began Senator Higgins and his
colleagues would give the State an
Australian ballot law, but il would
be such in name only. Some be-
lieve that Gardner would let them
get away with it.
But Max Gardner wasn't kidding
When he saw what the old boys
were trying to do to his pet measure
this week the Governor put on his
fighting clothes, walked into the
General Assembly Monday night. de-
livered a red hot message TO tie
Assemblymen, telling them that
there must be the right and pri-
vilege and facility for every citizen
entitled to vote to exercise this right
and unsupcrvised, as
Undated expression of the voter"
Il can not permit my party 70 be
backed up against wall and there
to have to defend itself against
charge that it does not believe in
honesty. I do not share in the ap-
prehension of those who fear the
political consequences of this action.
In my judgement this General AS
sembly ought to adopt uniform
state wide secret ballot law So
said Max Gardner.
And SO the fight is on. The old
timers shake their heads mourDfully.
The Republican national ticket poll
ed a majority of 10000 votes in
North Carolina last November with
Democrats seeing the votes voted.
How many more North CarolinianS
will go Republican in another cleo
ton if they are PERMITTED to vote
a secret ballot? Gardner thinks
more North Carolinians will vote the
ticket if the Democratic
party does not give North Caro-
lima the election reform demanded
in the name of fairness Of decency.
Gardner is taking his fight TO the
people this week; the test Of his