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234 MARYLAND HisToiucnt MAGAZINE
declared the Baltimore American, "was a great advance over the old system,
where
the voter was assailed by {party] workers and crowded by ticket holders and
made
generally uncomfortable." Because the law prohibited electioneering within
sixty
feet of the polls, moreover, "it was one of the most quietly conducted
elections ever
held in Baltimore." In the counties, voters and observers also rejoiced
over the new
system of voting. "It is the first time a poor and timid man could go up
and vote
as the equal of the greatest," announced one Western Maryland newspaper.
"It is
the first time there was no collaring or hustling or intimidating. The vote
is a free
and true expression of the popular will." The Hagerstoum Mail concluded,
"The
most popular institution in Maryland at this time is the Australian ballot
law. "4There remained problems, of course. Secret voting did not altogether
end elec-
tion bribery but merely required a change in tactics. Because the briber
could no
longer be assured that the vote was delivered, he now bribed opposing
voters not to
vote. "This method of bribery is rendered necessary by the Australian
Ballot law,"
declared one observer, and the cost increased to $7-10 per voter. 45 In
"the Bohe-
mian districts" and other ethnic precincts in Baltimore, moreover, there
was little
secrecy in voting, and often Democratic workers still guided voters to the
polls and
controlled the conduct of the election. labor groups, especially the
Knights of
labor, complained that the voting compartments were too small to adequately
shield the voter from observation and immediately began to lobby for larger
and
improved booths in order to prevent observation and guarantee secrecy in
voting.`
Because of popular satisfaction with the Australian system, Democratic
Governor
Elihu Jackson recommended in 1891 that the law be extended to all counties
with
proper revisions to accommodate the complaints. The Democratic-dominated
FIGURE 7. Partially mutilated sample ballot under the Australian system,
permitting the voter to select from
the available parties and nominees in the secrecy of a voting booth.
(Maryland Historical Society. Photo: Jeff
Goldman.)
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