New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-08
Discussing BALLOT REFORM.
last HEARING ON THE SAXToN BILL Be
FORE THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

FORE THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
PLEAS OF W. BoURKE COCHRAN AGAINST THE
MEASURE; AND OF WHEELER II. pEcKHAM'
HORACE p. pEM1NG AND LOUIS B.
POST IN IT'S FAVOR
YsY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE;
Alhsnv. Feb THE last hearing on the Saxton
r1ectorai Reform bill before the Assembly Judiciary
Committee was held this afternoon There was
,.rro attendance W. Bourke Cochran. Of New
York was there to oppose the b backed by such mon
AZ Ed Murphy, f., OF Troy, chairman OF the Demo
cratic state Committee, and stranger to political
uorl ~ peculiar nature. There were also near him
AssembIymcn shoehan and Senator Cantor, the Gov
ernor,s faithful attendants and servants In another
corner were Wheeler H. Pechham, OF Ncw-Yor0 (;
Horace f. Deming, OF Mugwump fame, and Louis +.
Post the Labor representative Senator J. Sloat Fas
sett was an attentive listener. as were many other
members OF the Legislature.
Mr.. Cochran attached the measure on tho ground
that the political machines could combine and delay
nominations until the last moment allowed by law,
and then force upon the public very Objectionable
candidates. He thought that such law would de-
grade citizens, by putting their right to vote SO
closely under the hands OF officials and he preferred
to depend upon the existing system rather than upon
the honesty Of officials. lie went back into history,
skctchcd the growth OF the elective franchise from an
there was never an election system good the
now In vogue in this country. The reform bill, no
sad was nothing but return 10 tho restricted suf-
frage OF other countries.
Every man has right 10 run for President and
be sure Of one voter exclaimed tho speaker lie did
not like tho idea Of nominating by 20
tition. The country would bo full Of
men running around IN groups OF fifty
getting tickets printed Anybody can ct fifty
~ fhoft
so low, so contemplate. so or degraded that
couldn't get these names with which to make start
as candidate. believe tina: this bin Is unconsiltu-
tionalh
Further, Mr.. Cochran said. the bill would make po-
tlcal machines so strong that they could on for.
ever' He was something of a machinlst himself, and
no ought TO know. This bill would put premium on
political organization. lie begged that the com
nteo would not favor this measure because somo
labor organizations favored II. They ignorant
people and msled, and didnt know what they wero
asking for. To compel people TO read card of In
struction was an outrage that thoy didn't deserve
In referring TO the recent election and using IL as
explanation in favor Of his argument thai the freedom
Of the ballot would be tempered with. he said that ho
did not believe that the last election bought This
empire was put up al auction; and the election.
which has turned over The Government 10 another 20
ltical party was a fair and honest ones
Mr. Peckham followed Mk Cochran. lie said thar
the address OF his learned friend excellent one
In point OF skin and eoquence. but his oppos'iion
dwindied down 20 the mcrest objection In possible
detail lie IS afraids said Mr. Peokham, " thai the
parties In New-York will combine and control cleo
tlons That Is one of his objections. suppose these
party leaders should delay making nominations uhiIl
the time allowed by law woudnt that attract steD-
tion7 Isn't that an exceptional case, TO delay making
nominations to within a day or two Of electont In
case bad nominations made, and people who Dc NOS
intend 10 be sat upon make other nominations you can
use pastors or write the names.
The danger OF bribery Is not from Tho laborng men
OF the world, but from the men who beneath
labor The danger Is not from the laborlng men,
You don't find great wrong coming from them. They
don't 20 around with their votes In their hands and
ash nay for them. Tho class of cOrpptcrs comes
from men OF power Of strength OF wealth, and OF 10
termination Ia gain object, and II they are OPP
posed In their efforts to gain this object. then they
use their power and wealth 10 corrupt men to Obtain
possession Of thcif object Tho danger II not In
men asking TO be corrupted Now, this bill has one
great feature, that II protects from the evil Of
that element and that power When he comes 10
cast his first VOTE the citizen should be protected
from the assaults OF the who willing to cor.
rupt him. That n the object OF this BILL
Louis r. Post, tho friend Of Henry George, and the
man who ran for DlsthctAttOrney on tho Henry
George ticket next spoke, In behalf OF the laboHhg
people, IN favor OF tho measure lie Is IN hvor oil
the Official ballot and said that the printing OF the
ballots by The county an nducemcnt TO political
parties to make their nominations in time for people
! TO find out who the candidates aro
Horace T. Demlng was the next and last speaker.
He favored the measure because the secrecy OF the
ballot was provided for and because the bill tool
away the influence Of tho purchaser OF votes He
said that he knew something about elections, as be
had occupied every place al the polls, fIum pedinH
votes In the street TO counting them. heiernng 20
Mr.. Coekran's speech, Mr. pemlng said that his
only fear was that Tammhny Hail u AFRAID that the
machine Will organize against u, why does TAM
many Iia want voters 10 use their cketsl because
| they want to use marked tickcis.' Mr.. Demlne
wants 10 abolish from tho polls the political worker
aud also TO prevent dckcrs' between candidates AND
corrupt politicians. lie referred 10 INC treachorl
| Of the o'Bren gang though not By name, and said
that there was hot straight set Of ballots at any
poll IN that district
| This bill win, In his opinion, stop al that and
| VIII put premium OF pulitlcal ORGANIZATIONS &c
| PENDING upon popular favor Mr. Defining ana Mr.
teekrei had a number of Tits, much 10 the amusement
| Of every one present. and the sver-tQngued oraoI
| Of 1ammany Hall dill not come out hrst.