Methods of Reform. 
269 
this committee unearthed widespread and continuing corruption, 
and the commission being continued, in 1870, reported in favor 
of a ballot act which became a law in 1872, and this was revised 
in 1878. These laws are based on the South Australian system 
and resulted in at least reducing the intimidation of electors. 
Since their passage a landlord or employer does not own the 
votes of his tenants or employes and cannot poll them. But 
we need not discuss the provisions of these wise laws as our 
own state—thanks especially to the enlightened labors of Sen¬ 
ator, now Congressman, Cooper of Racine, to whom the voters 
have said “well done thou good and faithful servant”—thanks 
to him, our state enjoys an admirable ballot and election law. 
Milwaukee, where such just men were in charge of politics 
that many of the safeguards could be dispensed with which were 
needed by less civilized portions of the commonwealth, was ex¬ 
cepted from this law until the last session, but it now applies 
to all the state. 
“Notwithstanding all that had been done, corruption in the 
English elections continued widespread and flourishing and 
seemed to warrant Lord Grey’s fear that the new reform act 
would substitute for the old family influence in elections “the 
bare influence of money in its lowest and most degrading form. ” 
In April, 1880, a general election took place. Numerous pe¬ 
titions against the returns were presented, and as the trials 
proceeded it became evident, says Sir Henry James, “that cor¬ 
rupt practices had in no way diminished”—nine thousand elec¬ 
tors in eight of these contested constituencies investigated were 
scheduled as guilty of corrupt practices. The matter was inves¬ 
tigated by royal commission, and when parliament met in Feb¬ 
ruary, 1881, Mr. Gladstone’s government devolved upon its at¬ 
torney general, Sir Henry James, the duty of preparing and 
carrying a measure adequate to correct the evils complained 
of. 
One afternoon at the end of June in 1883 (if a personal 
reminiscence may be permitted), it being his first day in London 
and having been to call at the legation of the United States as 
became a good Yankee, the writer of this dismissed his cab and 
started to stroll back to his hotel. Presently Westminster Ab- 
