The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-25
This paper Is Democratic Tn principles
and Is Independent in its 0tea0s on Gn
local questions.

Mayor Cleveland on Ballot Reform.
In the interview which he accorded
a SUNDAY MORNING NEWS reporter
upon the subject of ballot reform,
Mayor Cleveland sweeps away a
tangled mass of error and eccentricity,
and brings out the main principles of
the issue into the clear light of day.
In the heat of a political campaign,
there was neither the time nor the
patience perhaps not the courage to
take up the topic in a business like
way to ascertain just what was neces-
sary to be done, and above all things
what it was necessary not to do.
We consider that Mr.. Cleveland has
very ably, distinctly and at the same
time temporarily done this. He lays
down two dicta. One he states ex-
plicitly in these words
1.-THE reform that is needed is IN
which will enable workingmen to cast
their ballots in secret and according
to their own desires"
His second axiom must be cleaned
theoretically from his remarks; but we
think we formulate it correctly thus
1.-THE reform which we adopt must
not be one which will limit the right
of anyone at any time down to the
very day of election to seek the suf-
frages of his fellow citizens, nor the
right of any citizen to cast his ballot
for any person, no matter whether
such person be formally a candidate
or mott
We submit that in these two pro-
positions is contained the whole es-
sence of ballot reform. Stated by a
man like Mayor Cleveland they are
especially valuable as a p%resenta-
tion Of the issue, and will com
mand the highest consideration. 1t
is not only that Mayor Cieve-
lands lifelong activity in politics
his experience as a maker Of laws give
him a more thorough familiarity with
the subject. Over and above these,
he speaks, to a certain extent, as the
friend and champion of that very por-
ton of the community whom the re-
form is intended to benefit.
Mayor Cleveland has a standing be-
yond question rs a friend of the labor
ing classes and an uncompromising
foe of all who would injure them.
Therefore his definition of their in
terests in this matter will be received
by them with absolute confidence.
He has not been a demogogue or a
professional agitator, but within the
lines of his own political party he has
striven to benefit the people, and he
has, SO far as his influence went,
guided the policy of his party in their
behalf.
We draw attention to these facts in
order to strengthen his position in OPP
posing some very questionable features
of the so-called Australian system.
Many persons seem to have set their
hearts on the mechanical details Of
this plan rather than upon the great
idea underlying it, and it is to be pre-
sumed that some of these will differ
strongly from the Mayor.
And yet, we think, he goes to the
very heart of the matter. He throws
the mechanical details aside for the
moment and gets right at the root of
the affair. We must have a way OF
voting which will defeat both coercion
and bribery. such a system as will
enable the humble citizen to cast
what ballot he pleases, even though
his employer OF his boss may have
dictated the opposite. such a system
as will make it useless to pay a bride
since the wretch who takes it may
violate his bargain and go undiscov-
cred.
Yes, that is what we want, and it
does not matter by what plan it is
reached, so long as we get it. The.
orists and fanatics may rave about