The sun., 1890-01-12
Tho Real Inwardness Of tho Ballot
Tlnkering Scheme.

The Union League Club Is for sAxToE
ballot printed on a blanket sheet and orna
mented by eross-marks. The report OF itf
Committee on Political Reform very appro,
priately recommends "to the Republican
members of the Legislature the SAxToN
measure, and especially recommends the
official ballot as an essential feature OF the
reform" Tho Union Leaguers cannot be
considered as otherwise than sincere and
candid In advocating bill which has for
its object the cutting down Of the Demo-
cratic vote In New York, and the establish
ment Of an educational test for voters.
Yet intelligent persons who have kept
abreast OF the controversy, have not failed
to observe that the great ardor shown by
the Republicans for bogus ballot reform Is
much moro acute and clamorous In the States
of Now York, Massachusetts,. and Maryland
than among the Republicans OF either PENN
5ylvania or Ohio. While In the first-named
States the Republican leaders insist upon Sc
curing complete transformation OF the
whole system OF voting machinery. the Re
publican leaders In the other two States are
strangely silent as to the need Of anything
of the kind or, indeed, as to the necessity OF
q marked difference of opinion on the Repub-
lican side should from the sheer force Of its
incongruity. If forno other reason, arouse the
suspicious Of tho eyer-watchful ballot re-
formers, whose superior wisdom is 30 fire.
quently proclaimed by themselves. Strange
to say it has passed without 80 much as an
slluslon from these statesmen.
What makes New York Democratic
is the strong majorties given by New
York city and Brooklyn. What alone
threatens the overthrow Of Republican
ascendency In Massachusetts-an what
did, in fact, encompass that overthrow be-
fore the reforthers got firm hold of the
political rudder-is the Democratic prepon-
derance in the city OF Boston. What alone
keeps Maryland in the Democratic column
Is the Democratic majority in the city Of
Baltimore. AS these great cities expand In
population and Importance, and as other
and Industrial centres increase
their Democratic majorities, the chances OF
the Republicans steadily and perceptibly
decline. At the present ratio Of increase
New York city and Brooklyn may be ex-
pected to give to popular and accredited
Democratic candidate for President in 1892 |
not less than 100, 900 majority.
To prevent this, and to cut down the |
Democratic vote In other large cities as |
Jar as possible some new device has been
,ought. and the quest for 1t has been
rewarded by the unearthing OF the Aus
,ralian system 'Lzfor disfranchsing Demo-
rats. Evidently enough. II 10000 or $1,000
Democrats could be prevented from voting
n New York through Its operation. and
0,000 In each of the cities of Brooklyn,
Baltimore, and Boston, Republican success
n the three States of New York, Maryland,
nd Massachusetts would be easy; and in
hese three important commonwealth the
democratic would be deprived of the as
endency otherwise certain.
In Pennsylvania and Ohio these conditions
( population are exactly reversed. In
he former. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
70 intensely Republican. and stand as a
arrier OF $1,000 votes against the possibility
( Democratic success. In the State of Ohio,
and Cleveland are both Republi-
an centres, always to be relied on in grave
r important contest. and the application OF
ny disfraDehisiDg scheme against either
'ould impair the Republican lead.
Therefore 1t is that while In three Inn
oFtant States the Republicans are violent
" bogus ballot reform and vigorous In their
utcries for pure ballot In two other i'm
ortant and adjoining States they arc sug-
estvely silent on the subject.
Tho bogus reformers. however. implacable
! their hostility 10 anything savoring OF
lajority rule, are willing enough to over
irn universal suffrage itself If they can
sfeat Democracy. the chief foe to their
EetensionS. Thus 1t nGpPsns that those of
70 bogus ballot reformers who profess to I
) Democrats. are hand in glove with the I
epublioans In tho three States Of New York,
and Maryland; whereas In
and Ohio the Republicans {
,Orn their political oOmpanionship and de-
de their disfranchising scheme. But tho
do not mind the difference.
Tho Disposition OF the Dead.
A company called the New Mausoleum '