Show BALLOT REFORM IN NEW YORK THE republicans in the state of new york are forcing ballot reform as an issue in the present campaign governor hill and the democrats are endeavoring deavo ring to dodge state issues altogether g e ther because the record of the party Is in not sound on ballot reform what is termed the australian ballot system was first adopted in massachusetts chu chuE etts in 1888 and in the city of louisville kentucky about ther the same time it now prevails in about two thirds of the Sta teil and is said to be operating satisfactorily in every case in the sessions of 1888 1988 89 what is known as the saxton bill was introduced in the new york legislature it embodied the main features of the australian system wid aud was basseo by the republican majority but governor hill vetoed it on the grounds of unconstitutionality and of its practical disfranchisement of persons not able to read and write the governor objected specially to the blanket ballot by this is meant the new south wales ballot all candidates are placed anone ticket the voter at a private place olace provided at the polls simply crosses ot off with a blue pencil the names he does not wish to tb vote for the ballot contains printed directions as to how aaby names on the ticket must be voted for if more than the limit are voted for the ballot to is informal governor vernor hill claimed that in the case of illiterate and blind persons this system would destroy the lecresy of the ballot A second bill was introduced which it was thought would meet the gov erners objection but he be vetoed that also A third bill introduced in 1890 was pawed passed by the legislature and signed by the governor it is a compromise of the old aud and new systems it permits the use of 14 paster a feature ot of the old system that was never reee received ived with favor by party men it affords so much opportunity for trading trad ing that lalor labor organization sand reformers generally condemn it however hill claimed that it was a safe guard against packed primaries but there are express povl provisions in the abe australian Austra Austral liaA iad system also offsetting the crooked work of a party 0 a arty caucus the republican state stale platform of new york on this point says saye we favor the amendment of the ballot law by the substitution for the unofficial paster pa sterl ballot the blanket official ballot upon which fhe names of candidates shall be compactly grouped rendering the voters duty easy treating candidates with equal ju justice aice lessening opportunities for fraud bribery and corruption and largely reducing the expenses of elections the australian ballot system has baa now become so BO popular owing to itu itis almost universal adoption that governor hill finds it a delicate question to handle especially as his own record on it can be easily construed as antagonism to honest honert elections |