Lincoln County leader., June 22, 1900, Image 7

THE ALUM BAKING POWDERS.)
QUARTER of a century ngo
when a citizen desired to vote he
waB beset with difficulties at
least annoyances from the time he
hove iu sight of the army of "heelers"
at the polling place until he reached
the ballot box handlers. He was
crowded out of line, jostled, yelled at,
delayed by challenges. Voting was a
matter of strength, brute, force and en
durance. There was no privacy or se
crecy of political Inclination. The pro
gram then In vogue disgusted the re
spectable voter, and there was no rem
dy or Improvement afforded until the
Australian system came Into use.
This plan exceeded in purity and ac
curacy anything that America had
been able to devise. Its salient benefits
were that the intending votor has a
clear 200 feet In which to approach the
otlng booth unattended, that no man
OLD-TIME
but the judge of election could hand
Jiim a ballot, thus preventing tissue
ballots and vest-pocket voting; that he
retired to make his choice of candi
dates free from prying eyes, and that
be saw his ballot get inside the box.
But at this point the lesson ended,
for after trying the Australian system
beneficial as it has nroven It is cer
tain that progress demands still further
STAITCABD TOTTHO MACHINE.
Improvements, with eight tickets in the
field, and each ticket with sixty candi
dates, all printed on one sheet of paper,
many a voter, even of average Intelli
gence, has been bewildered. Outside
of this, the question of economics, In
money and time, has arisen. The
"'blanket ballot" lias been found cum
bersome; to the uneducated voter It has
often proved a puzzle. Intricacy has
been the fault To show how common
Is the confusion, the faulty marking of
ballots, It may be stated that In the
New York election of 1S97 some 122,080
ballots were thrown out as blank or de
fective. Add to this the fact that In the
city of Chicago It costs $75,000 merely
to hold an election for two judges, and
some of the defects of the Australian
system may be understood.
For these and many other reasons
tLe public mind Is dwelling earnestly
on the theme of voting by machinery.
It Is certain that the voting machine
would In time be able to defeat the
workings of the party machine. Sev
eral tilings are asserted In Its favor
that appeal strongly to the honest
voter. One Is the reduced expense of
conducting elections, which Is brought
about by the Increased speed In ballot
ing, and the consequent reduction In
the number of polling precincts. A
treat stride has been made In this dl-
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i'l'.t 2 : I ; H2
tit " i E33f i
rection In the way of practical experi
ment, and, in order to understand the
workings of the new system, a typical
case would be that of a great city like
Chicago. Here there are 1,120 pre
cincts, with an average of 328 regis
tered voters. Five men to the precinct
are officials at every election, and each
man receives $5 dally. The city sets
aside $124,000 for salaries of these
judges and clerks. The rental of the
precinct headquarters averages $15.
The ballots cost over $5,000. When
the care, keeping and distributing ex
penses are added this cost is doubled
or trebled. The office expenses of the
commissioners are also extremely
heavy.
Without too close analysis a saving
could be effected by the use of machin
ery that can be shown at once. It is
estimated that on this basis the num
ber of voting precincts could be re-
VOTING.
duced to 050. The printing of ballots
would be done away with. Of course
the care of the machines would be an
expense, although not nearly so heavy.
On an equitable table of reduction,
after careful computation, it is caleu
lnted that the enormous sum of $57,000
could be saved on every city election.
Itemized, this plan shows as follows:
Reduction In number of pre
cincts 470
Reduction in salaries of officers
of election $39,950
Ueduction in rentals at $15 a pre
cinct 7,050
Heduction in ballots and hand-.
ng 10,000
Total $57,000
This is a showing based wholly on
the assumption that the voting ma
chine can handle double the number of
voters that can be handled under pres
ent methods. The machine, accord. ng
to reliable experts from cities where it
has been tested, can lftindle 000 voters
to the precinct without trouble. It is
asserted that the voter can record his
vote In one minute. In one city pre
cinct in Detroit it wns reported that
150 men voted in exactly 150 minutes.
In Its adaptation to villages and to
country districts generally the voting
machine appears to be even at present
within the compass of all as to econ
omy, utility and expense. One machine
can be taken for a type of all. To a city
like Buffalo it sells for $500. The great
feature of the machine Is that it in
sures absolute accuracy In expressing
the will of the voter. It is automatic,
registers only what the voter wills,
cannot be disturbed without being
wrecked, and casts up the totals as it
goes. As soon as the polls are closed
the returns are there, totaled up ami
ready for transcription to the records
for canvass. It provides for the voting
of "split tickets" by an Ingenious de
vice, varying, of course, In the various
types. But it Insures one thing it ren
ders any contest Impossible. '
PULLING PABTY TICKET LEVER
The cash register was once scoffed at
as a thing of wills and buckfulness,
designed to toss the store proprietor In
the air and bungle bis accounts. It was
remarked with scorn and hilarity that
one graduate of a commarclal colleg-
was worth more than 1,000 machines
In casting up the receipts In cash. That
day, as all others, passed. Conipaia
tlvely few concerns In these days omit
the humble cash register, because of its
speed and approved accuracy in assem
bling totals. The longest-headed arith
meticians the world has ever produced
cannot . calculate skillfully enough to
destroy the equipoise of the delicate
machine, which attends to business
and merely rings a bell when cleared
for action.
At least half a dozen voting machines
have been invented, each of which has
points In its favor, according to the re
ports of investigators. A typical one
deserves a detailed description. It Is
about four feet square and ten inches
deep, and is supported by legs, the top
being a little over six feet from the
floor. From the upper corner projects
a semicircular bar, on which is hung
a curtain, which forms a booth. An
operating lever extends from the center
of the top of the machine, the outer end
of which is attached to the curtain.
The voter throws this lever, which
closes the curtain about him. I'laced
on the front of the machine in full view
of the public before it is closed by the
curtain Is an Australian ballot, 22x-t
Inches. At the bead of each ticket over
the party emblem is a straight ticket
kuub, and iu front of each name where
the marking space should be is an indi
cator which may be uioved over the
name to indicate the voter's choice,
which connects the counter, but does
not register the vote until the lever is
moved to open the curtain.
The voter first selects his party ticket,
and by pulling the straight knob at the
top over the party emblem down to the
right, moves nil the pointers for that
ticket. If he desires to split his ticket
he can move the pointer back from over
the name that docs not suit him, and in
the same office line move the pointer
over the name he wishes to vote for.
After pulling the straight ticket knob,
a pointer may be moved back and forth,
making a click at intervals to indicate
splitting, and at the same time, vote
straight. In splitting his vote he can
move the pointers silently, with a little
care. Having arranged his vote satis
factorily, he is now ready to register it,
which he docs by throwing the curtain
open by means of an operating lever,
with which he closed It, thus casting
and counting bis vote In perfect se
crecy. After the votes are closed and
the machine locked against voting, the
doors In the rear are unlocked, and the
vote of each candidate is shown ou the
counters, ready to be copied over the
election returns.
The machine is constructed of steel
and non-corrosive metal, and "Wiere
steel is used it is protected from rust oy
platlpg with copper and nickel. Every
movement is positive, the machine is
wholly different in construction from
any other, and cannot be manipulated
fraudulently. The machine weighs
about 500 pounds, and when boxed for
TUB AUSTRALIAN
storage or shipment occupies a space
about four feet square and sixteen
inches deep.
There is another device, known as the
"United States voting machine," "that
has a keyboard on which Is placed a
printed ballot, or labels, with the name
of each candidate, with a separate push
button adjacent to each name. The
machine has a large push button for
each party ticket. The operation of the
door through which the voter passes
out of the booth registers the vote he
has indicated. This device will readily
accommodate up to 800 voters. By
actual test a voter can enter the booth,
vote the straight ticket, and make his
exit In from five to ten seconds. When
the polls close the door Is locked In an
open position, which locks the mechan
ism of the machine, after which the
counting compartments are thrown
open to Inspectors and watchers and
the total number of votes received by
"ch candidate taken off and read Iu
mmiMM llll
public and ample opportunity is given
to compare the figures with the dial on
the machine. It Is mounted on wheels,
and is as readily transported as any
ordinary truck.
The machine tried at the Irvlngton,
Ind., election, a year ago the present
month, has some advantages over both
of the machines just described. It is
arranged to handle seven different tick
ets, with eighty names to each ticket,
while the face, or keyboard. Is 3x44
Inches in dimensions. This device both
registers and records every vote cast
first ou the dial, and then in addition on
a perforated proof, or tally sheet. It
has also a time lock, which can be set
to stop voting nt any hour fixed by law
for the closing of the polls. Further, It
handles fractional votes.
In a recent election in Rochester, N.
Y., the voting machines made it possi
ble for the first return to be given to
the public within six minutes after the
closing of the polls, while the final re
turns were declared just thirty-one
minutes later. The entire result was
nillO STATER VOTING MACHINE.
known three-quarters of nn hour after
the closing of the polls.
From all of this it will be conceded
that voting by machine has ninny de
sirable features. The reduction of the
cost of holding elections, the speed with
which the votes. can be taken, and the
speed with which returns can be made,
all important elements to consider.
Once adopted by law, the Inanimate
faces of these engines formed to tell
what the people want will be the medi
um of stopping foolish contests, which
cost the people heavy sums of money.
One lack will yet remain, however.
Complete purification of the ballot can
not be effected until some device is
perfected which will Insure absolute
security and legality In the registration
of voters themselves, whereby a cor
rupt man may be prevented from regis
(BALLOT SYSTEM.
terlng under the name of some other
man long dead or removed from the
city. When such a device is created
and why may not photography and oth
er science abet? then voting will be
come an accurate expression of the peo
ple's will. The reign of "the boss" will
id, for the entire electorate will bo
"boss!"
He Won't Get Her ilicycle.
Mr. Wlmpley My constant aim In
this ilfe Is to do something to make the
World better.
(Mrs. Wlmpley-Well, you'll do It;
ftjel sure of that.
Mr. Wlmpley Ah, Maria, I am glad
that you have for once in your life In
dicated that you have faith In my abil
ity to accomplish something.
Mrs. Wlmpley Yen, you'll die some
day. Then the world will be better.
Chicago News.
Dogs may have family trees, but you
cannot tell them by their bark.
Name of Some of the Principal Brand
Sold In thi Vicinity.
The recent discussion in the 'papers
of the effect upon the human system of
food made with alum baking powders
and the opinions that have been pub
lished from noted scientists to the
effect that such powders render the
food unwholesome, have caused numer
ous inquiries for the names of the vari
ous alum powders.
The following list of baking powders
containing alum is made up from the
reports of state chemists and food com
missioners, of Minnesota, or other reli
able authority:
Unking Powdera Containing Alum;
K. C Contains Alum
Jaqncs Mfg. Co., Chicago.
Calumet Contains Alum
Calumet Baking Powder Co., Chicago.
Home Contains Alum
Home Baking Powder Co., San Francisco.
Washington Contains Alum
Pacific Chemical. Work, Taeoina.
descent Contains Alum
Crescent Mfg. Co., Seattle.
White Lily Contains Alum
l. Ferrer a & Co., Taeoma.
Bee-Hive Contains Alum
Washington Mfg. Co., Pan Francisco.
Bon Bon Contains Alum
(irant Chemical Co., Chicago
Defiance Contains Alum
Portland Coffee Si Spice Co., Port aud.
Portland Contains Alum
Beno di Hallls, Portland.
In addition to these, it is learned
that many grocers are selling what
they call their own private or special
brana. xuwti ponuurs are put up lor
the grocer and his name put upon the
labels by manufacturers of alum pow
ders. The manufacturers, it is said,
find their efforts to market their goods
in this way greatly aided by the ambi
tion of the grocer, to Bell a
powder with is own name upon
the label, especially when the grocer
can make an abnormal profit upon it.
Many grocers, doubtless, do not know
that the powders they are thus pushing
re alum powders which would be act
ually coutrabrand in many sections if
sold without disguise.
It is' quite impoaaiblb te give the
n nines of all the alum baking powders
in the market. They are constantly
appearing in all sorts of disguises,
under all kiuds of cognomens, and at
all kinds of prices, even as low as five
and 10 cents a pound. They can be
avoided, however, by the housekeeper
who will bear in mind that all 'baking
powders sold at 25 cents or less per
pound are liable to contain alum, 89
pure cream of tartar baking powders
cannot be produced nt anything like
this price.
BURIAL OF SPANISH RULERS.
Weird Ceremonial CuMtoin Prescribed
for Itoyal Obaequiea.
Strange and almost weird is the cere
monial which accompanies the burial
of Spanish kings. The pantheon, or
royal tomb, is at the palace of Esunrial,
situated 8,000 feet above the level of
the sea and some distance from the
capital. Only kings, queens Hnd moth
ers of kings are buried there, the collius
of the kings lying on one side, and those
of the queens on the other. After lying
in state for several days in the throne-
room in Madrid, says the San Francisco
Argonaut, an enormous procession is
formed accompanying the body to the
Escurial. A halt is made on the way
and the corpse rests there for one night.
In the morning the lord high chanihei
lain stands at the side of the coflin and
Bays in loud tones: "Is your majesty
pleased to proceed on your journey?'
After a short silence the procession
moves on and winds up to the grand
portal of the palace. Those doors aro
never opened except to admit a royal
Eersonage, dead or alive. When the
asket containing the remains is at last
placed in the vault the chamberlain
unlocks it and, kneeling down, calls
with a loud voice: "Sonorl Senorl
Senor I" After a solemn pause he cries
again: "His majesty does not reply.
Then it is true the king is dead!" IJe
then looks the coffin, gives the key to
the prior (the palace of the Escurial
contains also a large monastry and the
church) and, taking his staff of office,
breaks it in pieces and flings them at
the casket. The booming of guns and
the tolling of bells announce to the
nation that the king has gone to hit
final resting plaeo.
Having Oneself by Pervlca,
A man was traveling over an Alpine
pass. He went over the glaciers, sink
Lug in the snow step by step, upward,
nntil he was aweary. High on the
inmmlt of the pass a desire to sleep
overcame him. He could hardly put
one foot before another. Just as he
was almost sinking down into the sleep
which would have proved the sleep of
death to him, he struck his foot against
an obstacle which proved to be the
body of a tiaveler who had preceded
him. He bent down, found that the
heart had not ceased to beat and began
at once to rub the frozen limbs and to
rjd his best to reanimate the body. Ia
his effort he was successful. He saved
the man's life; and, in the effort, be
banished his own desire to sleep and so
saved his own life in saving another.
Herald and Presbvter.
Already Tamed.
blue, "that when I marry 1' shall
marry a widower."
"Coward I" returned the girl ia
gray, scornfully.
Truly, it would seem that a woman
iliould be willing ta tame her own
husband. Chicago PoBt.