Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-06-14

tIuHJ lO lnc DcinOcTacy All tuut
the amendments above suggested de.
mand" 1.irg
The Public Ledger of May 25, 1871,
said "There is no fair man of any
party in Philadelphia, opposed to such
amendments to our Registry law, as
will make it conform of the principles
of the general election laws Of the
State, aud make it just and equal in
its operation. OF the four principal
points 10 the bill passed by the Senate
on the last named subject, at least two
have been shown to be indispensable
in the hearing Of election cases before
tho Court of Common Pleas. The
forging Of election returns has not
only come to be-a system, but the
cohnting of these false returns by the
Return Judges, with fall knowledge
that they are fraudulent, has grown
TO be the practice. Appeals to the
Court of Common Pleas have thus
far failed to provide remedy or ro.
dress for this great and dangerous
wrong-great because IL disiranchises
thousands upon thousands of voters,
and dangerous because il has already
led to the mutilalion aud robbery Of
the records of the Courts, to riot blood
shed and slaughter in the Supreme
Court Room of the State, and may
lead TO disasters far worse, bad as those
mentioned are False returns have
been counted in by the Return Judges,
which the Judges Of the Common
Pleas have pronounced palpable for
geries before they were counted, ac-
companying their Recommendations with
the statement that they ought not TO
be counted. SO manifestly fair and
essential is this amendment, that not
one journal Of any party in Philadel.
phia has opposed it. On the contrary,
il has been favored by nearly all of
them, Republican, Democratic and
Independent Indeed there has been
no opposition to IL from any quarter,
except that which has been stimulated
by candidates for office, who know
themselves TO be Objectionable aud
unpopular, and whose only hope is
that which is based upon false returns.
Had these men and their adhercnts
kept away from Harrisburg, this just
law would have passed weeks ago, for
a majority Of the Legislature being
composed of Just and honorable men u
ma niority was in favor of its passage.
Upon the question TO indefinitely
postpone the Senate amendments by
the House, (Which amendments were
the three propositions specified J on
May 10, 1871,
Mr.. Elliott said | desire to state
that | vote upon this question in nc.
cordancc with the views of my politi.
cal associates. | therefore vote "aye"
Mr. Mann said Upon this question
| vote in accordance with the judg
ment Of my political associates, and
against my own. ! therefore vote
"ayc."
MIR, Miller, of Philadelphia In &C.
cordance with the instructions of the
Republican caucus and against my
own convictions of right | vote "aye."
These amendments were indefinitely
postponed by strict party vote-47
TO 4i-except that William f. Smith,
of Philadelphia voted with the Demo
Gratis. We have labored during this
entire session TO bring about this much
needed reform, because we have felt
that it would measuraby restore the
purity of the ballot box in Philadel.
phia that il would aid in preventing
lale presentations aud frauds upon the
registry; that il would prevent the
fraudulent counting and false returns
of votes, and that the restraining
power of judicial tribunal would
prevent the recurrence of scenes Of
riot, bloodshcd and murder hereto.
fore occurring at the meeting of the
board of return judges. We have
failed in the attainment Of these just
ends, and zoe noio deliberately charge
that the Republican organisation, IN
obedience 10 a party caucus, controlled
By a ring" Of Philadelphia politicians,
/ has prevented these necessary reforms,
and thus aided in perpetudting fraud,
fdies counting, forgery Of election re-
lturns, and riot, bioodshed and murder.
Tho responsibility is upon them.
and not upon us.