New-York tribune., 1889-12-31
SENATOR GORNAN'S LITTLE PLOT
A BITTER ATTACK on BALLOT REFORM IN MARY

Baltimore, Dec 30 (SpeciaD.-There Is big po-
ltical sensation here tonight. Senator German has
come ont against the Australian ballot system Ills
speech was not made for publication, and that fact
adds to the general surprise The Democratic leSls-
lators being here in informal before the regu
lar caucus at Annapolis tomorrow night 1t was
thought "a good idea on the part Of the Democratic
state Central Committee to invite the Democratic
editors Of the State to banquet with the expressed
purpose of getting their advice on matters affecting
the party but. instead Of an experience meeting IL
turned out 70 be a class Of instruction. After the
dinner senator German and his satellites, State
Treasurer stevenson Archer and "Vc" Baughman, the
state Controller, made speeches The Senator pitched
into the Australian system and denounced
adopted in this state 1t would hurt
tile Democrats and half the Republicans. lie called
upon the editors to oppose it. The plan was for
them to start the opposition in their papers, letting
it emanate from them and not from nun: Archer
and Baughman made hot speeches against the system
Then the leaders that they had gone too far aud
everybody cautioned to say nothing about the
speeches But II was too great sensation TO be
kept Senator German is the maddest man III the
city, for he is caught in his own trap. The Demo
cratic state platform pledges the party to ballot
senator Gorman's little speech was follows:
There can be question that a serious condition
Of affairs confronts The tide of immigration the
influences of men who are coming hlther are all ad,
causes growing less, and want of
thorough cooperation among people has also cut
down majorities The elective franchise has
been abused Money has been poured out to capture
elections fraudulcnty. You have seen in your day
two Presidents elected by the money power Against
this abuse df the elective franchise all good Demo
Gratis haze turned their faces, ready
to do anything to put down forever this corrupt power
Two years ago, in an endeavOr to keep faith,
election laws passed meet the sentmentalists.
The result IS that in entire section Of the state, an
element is dominant which should control white
faces. We uust have thorough cooperation TO treat
new-fangled ideas from Democratic standpoint ana
defeat them,
As for the Australian system you had better label
it bill to throw the Democratic party in the rear
This system has had two trials in this country. one
was in Boston, the other in Montana. The former
for years Democratic stronghold, went Republican at
the last election under the Australian system. by be-
tween 1000 and 5000 majority, for the first
time since 1854. Governor Houser writes
me from Montana. that should have carried the
state instead of having il hanging In the balance.
The system that the voter from the influence
Of men OF intelligence box leaves him to the danger
Of the money power. You pay a voter, If you pay
him at all in secret. BY the system he is exposed
to the corrupt influences of bribery more than ever.
with the late Henry w. Grady say that the time
will not come when the intelligent men and men of
property will permit another element to control the
south. Other matters to come before the Legislature
Of vital importance but this is the one great thing
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