New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-16
GENUINE BALLOT REFORM.
AssEMBLYMAN SAxToN TELLS WHAT Els
BILL WOULD DO

Ars sE~1huoiAnI1C MfETlN0 AZ Eu1 pA&1r118
cLUB-ADD1TIoNAL SPEECHES Bn
THEODORE RoosEyTLT AND
ERNEST Il. CROSBY.
The lecture-room OF the Federal Club. Maidstone
ave- and Fifty-ninfh-st, was crowded last night
by Republicans who bad assembled to listen to IA
address by Charhs 7, Saxton. of Wayne County.
on Ballot Reform The presence, In period
of comparative political peace. which naturally
follows o great victory, of so many men idensifed
with the struggle for pure government. seemed 10
be Of itself bright augury for the future Of the
party of principle. 1t was an assemblagc Of
thoughtful men, evenly divided between tha
youthful and the mature, and representative of the
elements Of influence and activity in the Re
publican party.
Not seat was unoccupied when Theodore
Roosevelt the president of the club, arose 70 in
troduce the speaker Of the evening. Among those
facing him in the audience were A. r. Whitney.
L. e. Chittenden, Colonel EAiott F. Shepard.
B. F. Wetmore, Gustaye A. Jshn. @. E. Bidwell,
J. II. Guion, j. II. Phipps, e. W. Harris Edward
z. Brown. w. G. Hill. Job E. Hedges, Kliaen Van
Rensselaer,, William T. Keyes, James T. Nicoll,
W. d. Murphy. R. J. Lewis, H. d. Hunt, DR..
G. H. Brown, II. L. Purdy. Clifford Hurry, Harrison
d. Hunt and ex-Alderman James Owens.
Mr.. Roosevelt was warmly applauded when he
arose, and at intervals during his remarks IL
gave him peculiar pleasure, he said, to introduce
the author of the Ballot Reform bill. Ballot re-
form, he thought, was the most pressing Of all
the measures now being battled over In tho
political arena. He would not even except the
substitution Of the merit system for the spoils
system in the method of making minor govern
mental appointments, vital though that reform
might be- He was glad, he said, of the oppcr-
tunity Of saying TO a body Of men who, like the
members of the Federal Club, were Republicans
from conviction, that he thought the spectacle
Of the hungry herde Of oflce-seezers who had
deluged Washington, and who fairly squealed in
their eagerness for office, enough TO shock the
most hardened spokesman. He hoped that Presi-
dent Harrison would disregard them, that he would
make no clean sweep, but would permit faithful
public servants to serve out the time for which
they were appointed.
MR.. ROOSEVELT ROUNDLY CHEERED.
Mr. Roosevelt was enthusiastically cheered
when he expressed the belief that President Har-
rison would be the President of the people, and
not of the politicians. Continuing. he said that
the corrupt use of money at elections must be
stopped, else our freedom would surely perish
lie cared nothing which party used It; whoever
bribed should be punished with the utmost rigor
OF the law. He was proud of Mr. Saxton for
introducing and Of the Republican party for pass
ing the Ballot Reform bill; and every true citi-
zen should regard with abhorrence Governor
Hills attitude and the hypocrisy Of the Democrats
in introducing q measure simply for the purpose
of killing the Saxton bill. In closing Mr.. Roose-
welt said: we must beware Of expecting too
much even from such measure as this. Doubt
less 1t would prove In practicc to have few
faults but they could be easily remedied, and
the general result would beyond question be good.
The passage of this bill would be long step
toward securing honest and decent politics in
this State.s
Mr. sAxTos's LUCID DESCRIPTIONS
After the applause which marked the close Of
Mr. Roosevelts brief address had subsidized, he
formally introduced Mr.. Saxton, who was greeted
with O tremendous outburst of cheers mr. Sax-
ton is tan. welLbuilt man, with closely cropped
gray hair, a gray mustache and handsome. regu-
lar features. His voice is full end round and
his delivery that of an orator. His many tell
ing points were invariably acknowledged ON
hearty applause. His address was as f1nows
The subject Of ballot reform exciting the attention Of
thinking men all over the Nation. The legislatures cf
many States have 1t under consideration Inc news
papers have up and giving IL thorough us
custom ID has been made leading State issue In
,,a.A noncal campaign The people talking about 10
I'm cubrooms debating societies. political gatnernss ana
even upon the OF cities ana villages one %
indications Of the general interest aroused oy 1s uo
ect is the that l. who unknown 70 fae am nere
on,oht IN response TO an invitation given to me By the
Federal Club simply for the reason that my name mas De-
come connected with measure having Tor us oolecs mo
| reform Of the ballot OF the State. Surely We caonos
overstae the importance OF the ballot In democac gov
e,nment Ike ours II Is the source Of all political power
Upon It reposes whole structure of the Republic. "
is nnal summing and practical application 81 AZ
political argument Through It the people register nsn
decrees. 1t is the badge OF their so'eresnV @HA s
guarantee Of their liberties
The eloquent orator Of Tammany Hail. W. bouIKs
Cochran appeared not long ago before the Assembly %
dietary Committee In opposition 70 the Bsnoe M
he panted picture Of New-York City pohucs nas iooheo
20 we'll upon canvas that all charmed with 10
beauty It presented scene Of Arcadan smpuciv aas
was DELIGHTFULLY."- blended with ruRgedness OF spartan
virtue admirable The politicians portrayed nes
were all statesmen. The voters were immaculate In their
nristIne purity and integrity. Every candidate for once
was highmnded patriot Offering himself ss saerinee
for the pubc veal The citizens who were 70 DC seen Ia
the background deEosng their ballots had no guide OF
,,o bnt their own conscience, asked for reward
but the proud knowledge that they were performing VITA
dignity and decorum high public duty. In snort !"
abandon the figure. Mr.. Cochran aosoiur aenieo the
nremses from which attempt at reform must follow as
natural conclusion and asserted that hsre neither Is
nublc sentiment nor public demand for legislation upon
| the subject of ballot reform
TAKING UP THE GAUNTLET.
think we may safely take issue with Mr. Cochran.
both as to and his nference That eorrups n
auences are felt elections Is proposition that no
ono will attempt seriously eontroyert The person
who k not already convinced should visit tho polling places
at election time and quiet observations. He
can hardly fail perceive the reek and the rot because
they are right in plain sight The corruption THAI
| preyails scarcely seems to seek concealment
We have diagnosed tho disease. What is the renedys
We see the danger. How It be syoidedf Certainly
half way measures Of place here, To appropate
| one Of James Russell Loweps inusxatons, no phys
sician woud apply plasters single pustuls OF the
smallpox with TO driving out the disease There
are plenty upon statute books. bus hey are
! dead to infection" Whyf Because the pubic con-
science in this respect has become bunted We have
made for years "a searecrow law until IL has lose
all les terror When law becomes dead letter 10 ean-
oos be Quickensd by Increasing tho penalties Tor It's viola
on The moral OF the people cannot be syakened
TO the enormisy Of particular ohenee simply oy MAKING
| the nunlshnoot more severe II Is wen enough 10
anirn iha snnne az orr nenal bearing upon this