Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/358

 342 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

comprehensive election code, embracing sections dealing with the question of ballot reform, personal registration, nomination reform, as well as with the general features of election machinery, the league's work along these lines being the basis of considera- tion.

Incidental to its work along political lines, the league was of necessity compelled to take an active part in the interpretation and execution of the election laws. In 1901 it called the attention of the court to the fact that for a number of years the " list of voters," which the law contemplated should be filed in the pro- thonotary's office (an office of record, and open to the public under proper restrictions), had been locked up in the ballot box and stored away in the cellars of the city hall, and so rendered inacces- sible to persons interested in ascertaining the correctness of the vote at any particular election. The league instituted test suits; and, after a careful consideration of all the questions involved, in which the league was represented by its counsel, the court sus- tained the position of the league, and decided that thereafter the " list of voters " must be filed in the prothonotary's office. This had the result of cutting off an important form of election fraud, it having been the custom theretofore to run in fraudulent votes, and file the evidence of it away in the ballot boxes, which could be opened only after a most difficult process. Now the lists are filed in the prothonotary's office; and it is possible and feasible for any person to examine them, and ascertain just who voted at a particular election and in a particular precinct.

The league was likewise instrumental in determining the right of municipal parties to a circle at the top of the column on the ballot. The county commissioners maintained (under instruc- tions from the secretary of the commonwealth) that only parties having a full, city, state, and national ticket were entitled to a circle at the top of their column. The case instituted by the Muni- cipal League established the right of the league and similar organizations to the same privileges enjoyed by the Republican and Democratic parties for a circle at the top of their column on the ticket. If the Legislature should pass the ballot-reform law which is being urged, this particular decision will have no further