New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.
RInw Ar rae PHILApHLPHlA RING.

VOTE on TIE CONSTITUTION IN PHILADELPHIA
prsuAY or TIE RING--TREiR PROBABLE APPEAL
TO GOV. HARTlANFT.
,,pou ,SoccAsyoNAL CORRESPONDENT oP TIE TRrBUHEl
PuIIApEIPRIA, Nov. 1.-The Philadelphia Ring
,oad.rs received a crushing blow IN the Constitu-
tional Convention last night IL has been the conf
dent and insolout boast of the political managers
here that they would defeat The amended Consttu-
ton by 10000 and more If necessary. They were
therefore content with general denuncation of the
Convention and systematic fdicule of all ITS eior's
for reform They gave 1t out, without any Iretoi,Se
of concealmont that they held the control oil Ihi"
delphia and that her verdict would be manipulated
70 overcome any possible majority the country coulu
give for the new fundamental law.
But the Convention quietly bided ats uine' "hoh
its chief work had been completed, an oroln"noe
was reported providing for the specih eiecuon 70
enable the peopo TO vote on the Constitution After
making the necessary provisions for elections IN the
counties generally. special clause was made appli-
cable 70 Philadelphia. Ii named Edwin ii. Filter
Edward Browning and John p. Verree, Republicans
and Henry : Hagcrt and John o. James Democrats
"A Commissioners OF Election, 70 revise the
registry appoint the election officers, and
receive compute, and certify the returns
of the vote Of TINS city the Constitution 1t was
Revolutionary assault upon false registration, re-
peating ballot-stufing and forged returns, and
aimed death-blow at the political control that has
made elections 10 Philadelphia mockery of popular
government. The men named were all mexception-
able The Republicans are thoroughly in favor of
Reform and the Democrats are emiDently competent
and faithful. Mr. Hagert was the leading counsel
in the notable McClure-Gray Senatorial contested
election and was the masteTspirit of that achieve
ment. ...
DECISIVE VOTE FOR THE MEASURE.
Senator White at once rushed to the front and
sounded the long roll of the Ring. He appealed TO
the partisan majority of the Convention TO reject
this seal Of lnfamy proposed to be placed upon the
Republican control Of Philadelphia. Mr.. knight,
highly sublimatod Union Lacquer, who pays his
money to the Ring leaders annually wherewith to
defray the heavy expenses of manufacturing MAORI
ties TO order declared that Philadelphia elections
have been honest and that the ordinance was an in
suit TO tho city he represented. As he never saw
repeater 10 the best Of his knowledge, and never
saw ballot-stu1eT, or return forged and as the
Ring managers who habitually plumber him both
as taxpayer and as a political contributor,
have told him that Philadelphia elections are hon
est in the simplicity ofshs'heart he believed all he
said and nearly splintered his desk by the violence
of his gestures he gave general certificate of
good character TO the most thoroughly organized
body of men for the pollution of the ballot that
the country has ever produced. hcMichael sat
close by the unsophsticated Knight, and voted with
him. but he was wise enough to be silent Gov.
Curtin replied in of his happiest efforts, and re-
peatedly brought down the house. His sarcasms,
often pointed with the keenest rdicule in describing
modern Philadelphia elections and bus whitening |
mvectvo he portrayed the liberation of notorious
election frauds by the respectable men Of the city, |
made the Philadelphia Republicans who dared not
vote for TIE special ordinance sit in silence, and
their responses were enfeebled by shame. At last
the vote was called and it stood 9s for the ordinance
and 10 against it, blessrs Lttleton Simpson, New
lin, and Wetherill of the city Republicans voted |
with the majority, MeNiiehael ever subseryient |
voted with th5 pitiful minority for VIA; nc co;
not defend, when the political management of bis |
own party was about to be stamped with infamy.
TIE RINGS HOPE IN GOV. HARTRANFT.
The vote was taken late in the evening" and not |
until this morning did the Ring managers know OF
their terrible discontinue by Republican Conven
ton. composed of majority of men elected by the
regular Republican organization, and men, too, who
command the confidence of all parties. The streets
about the usual haunts Of the Republican leaders
were unusually lively to-day, as the managers hur
red 10 and fro with anxious faces, inquiring how
they could defeat the action Of the COnven-
ton. If such ordinance is enforced,
Philadelphia viii vote for the Constitution,
the Registry law viii be wiped out, and cleo
tious will be made to second the viii Of the
people. Before midday they had caught CLEAN
of hope. Some Of the holder leaders announced
that Gov Hartranft would he successfully appealed
TO- and he would issue proclamation declaring the
election laws Of the State in force in Philadelphia
and elsewhere the special election and this even
ing it is confidently asserted that the city election
officers chosen 10y the Ring will take their places
Oh election day. and that the special officers APP
painted by authority OF the Convention, will be en-
Joined by the courts from interfering with their
vocation of running the election by contract, re-
Rardes Of the number of votes cast or Of the kind
of tickets voted
The action of the Convention by such decisive
vote has made a profound impression In the city,
and has aroused the long hopeless desire OF the peo
DIE for relief from the reign of corruption and
fraud. Gov. Hartranft Will be appealed to- but the
fact that such an appeal is TO be made will only
quicken and intensity the mass of the people. and
make so fraught with peril that he will probably
not venture TO intepOse The effort to set aside the
ordinance of the Convention is a confession that an
honest election dare not be conceded to the people,
and it will think, provoke the business men of
the city to such determined action that even the
Registry law, with its thousand sinews of fraud,
could not prevail against them The appeal TO the
courts would be equally futile in serving the pur
poses Of its authors. Our judges win not seek to
RESTRAIN the sovereign authority of the State. and
every sep the heroes OF fraudulent elections take
will only make their overthrow the more over
whelming
The Constitution is 10 be submitted as whole,
and thorough organization VIII be made by the
friends Of reform for its adoption. An honest cleo
ton seems 10 be assured, and the success OF the
amendments is scarcely doubtful. But TO guard
against all contingencies the Convention has de
Ulded to adjourn, to meet again in Harrisburg ten