The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-05
srxR1T or TEE PRHss.
Editorial Opinions ofthe Leading Journals
upon Current Topios-CompiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph
PHILADELPHIA AND POLITICAL RE-
FORM H
From the HarrisburN Ratriot.

PHILADELPHIA AND POLITICAL RE-
" FORM. M
From the Harrisburg Patriot
In speaking of the little influence which is
possessed in Congress by the delegation from
Philadelphia, one of its newspapers declares
it to be ''in many respects the first city in the
country" SO far as the character and ability
of its representation in the State Legislature
are concerned, Philadelphia is without doubt
the smallest city of its size on this continent.
For years and years the State capitol has been
disgraced by the worst gangfrom Philadelphia
that ever polluted the halls of legislation. To
the members from that city the people are
indebted for the organization of those rings
which put up every important act of legisla-
ton for sale. It is to break up the evil power
of these men that the demand for some mea-
sures of reform has become universal
throughout the Commonwealth. While con-
Tossing the bad character of their representa-
tives, the people of Philadelphia have not
made an earnest effort to shake them off.
The lot is growing worse with the return of
every year. There is annually some loose
general denunciation in the city ne ewspapers
which strikes no one, and there
the matter ends. The nominating
conventions meet, and the same candidates
are placed before the people. In the midst
of few faint and timorous protests the ma
chinery of the party is set in operation, and
the election of the nominees follows as a
matter of course. Not less than thirty-four
thousand citizens of Philadelphia according
to statistics. refrained from voting at the last
election In this way they silently protested
against that ring which has taken possession
of the ballot boxes and put an end to popular
elections in Philadelphia. They felt their
inability to break its power and they volun-
tarily disfranchised themselves.
The Union League on Broad street is be-
4 e ...lsl
tional reform. If the future of that organi-
zation may be judged by its past there is
little room to expect any goodfrom its efforts.
When did the Union League ever attempt to
make head against the Infamous delegation
to the State Legislature that Philadelphia
annually vonits? Beneath the shadow of the
League and under its auspices, some of the
worst of the Legislative gang have been
elected. The work of constitutional re-
Legislature. On the legislation of
next winter much will depend. Yet what
effort has sthe League made to send
an able and upright delegation from Phila-
delphia Not the slightest that has been
made apparent to the public. Its zeal and
sincerity in behalf of reformed constitu-
tion may be well judged by the character of
the delegation which it has assisted to send
to the Legislature. 1t is not the purpose here
to attempt to create any divisions among the
true friends of constitutional reform. Some
thing must be done to bring down the evil
power of the gang in the Legislature, or the
Commonwealth will be utterly at their mercy.
But it does seem that the Union League on
Broad street does not possess modesty as
one of the graces of its organization, else it
would not so soon after emerging from an
election in which it made no effort to exalt
the character of the Legislature, set up its
staff for constitutional reform. 1t has too
many of the stains of the last and former
elections on its garments. With all the
parade of its zeal not much is to be expected
of the League, or of its influence for good on
the delegation from Philadelphia. That in
famous registry law which has placed
the rights and liberties of the citi-
zens of Philadelphia at the
mercy of the gang of which William
B. Mann is the head, and William nj. Bum
the tail, is bantling of the League. Its
author is generally understood to be Charles
Gibbons, who figured prominently in the
recent movement of the Union League in
behalf of constitutional reform This is the
institution, secret in its character and parti
san in its aims, which seeks to lead the peo
pie of Pennsylvania in the path of reform
with the delegation which it has assisted te
send to the next Legislature.