New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-27
HILL on BALLOT REFORM.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS A LAW COMPEL
LING MEN TO VOTE

LEGISLATION NOW SHCRfp
fny TkLEGRAru TO TIL IkIDuSkl
Pranknnvii!e, y. V. sept 28.-Govemor iii'l con
tinutd his tour among the farmers To-Day DcpAr'i"s
from buffalo this morning. he 1oancyed 10 Franklin
Willie In Cattarauanis County. aud there. In drz1ihS
ria, made a speech at a fair his speech. ~ usu''
wits crasnmed With political points. People were not
surprised therefore. to standing by his soo OF 'he
fn.r grounds John W. Mcmahon, the member OF tho
Democratic state Committee nom this Cohgrcssoi@'
district and NJ. H. Jewell Of Ocan, WHO IS 10 De 'ho
democratic candidate for Member OF the Assembly
from, TINS Assembly district. which Is close one
The two Republican Assemblymen from Cattaraueu'
County James =. whipplc ard b. r. Lewis. were also
present fur tho purpose Of observing the Governors
political movement. The Governor was sofohpAou
here from Buffalo by Colonel 4. L. Judson, OF Albany
his military secretary. and by Surrogate s1efh' VI
Buffalo.
lie expressed In his speech his great joy over tho
passage Of the BALLOT Reform law. One would never
have suspected nom what he said that nc
had vetoed two Railot Reform bills anu ONLY
signed third wien public opinion all over 'no
United Sastcs became 20 unanimous In favor Oh such
ill tat he did not dare to kill It, The Governor now
ever expressed his fears that the law might be beat
BY political organizations paying men to stay ~
homo upon election day. The remedy for this form
Of political corruption, he thought. would DO oem'
pulsory election law Unfortunately s.ch law csnhot
be passed until next winter, 10 that Is to be feared
that unscrupuous Democrats may take the Governors
suggestion ia the wrong way and indulge In the corrupt
practice OF paying vscrs TO stay of home the approach
lug election Upon the subject OF ballot REFORM the
Governor said
The people OF the be congratulated upon tho
OF what is believed 10 be constitutional Bsios
Reform law 1t rot in all respects satisfactory but al
new measures character and Importance must neccS
sarly be Experimental. is cumbersome In some OF Us
provisions and expensive In its operation 1t opens up a
,prontable controversy however divide the response
xhic
than facilitate the cycrcse o: the election FRANCHISE They
vera frequently pointed out and commenced upon ny me
during the three years cont oresy over This SUBJECT
surnccnt that the measure is now law having
received the vVt Of the Legislature ana having
been Approved by the Executive invoke for It's enforce
the loyal honest and patriotic efforts oil the rope
without distinction Of PARTY The law. eAccIIeht a. ~ IL
In chic: characteristics will pve futile and maatQuate
to stop corruption and to independence In Nous
unless II shall have Tic moral SUPPORT OF tho
people Themselves. Instead 0: dsisine ingenious means
and methods eNade the law the efforts OF patriotic
citizens should be devoted securing It's successful opera
ton
1t is time that the practices which have tended to
corrupt elections In the past and for which BON
parties are ess responsible. should CEASE tOr-
ruption at our IL not confined to the cities OF the
state. exists everywhere at the town meetings q"
well the general elections Neither is II cohhhco
to any 1t has perNaGed the rural ostrc' anu
oil classes participated in tn" corruption lts con-
thusnce will destroy free institutions pf'hsSco
suffrage mskee on election fare 1t renders IT dnlcult
for poor men to public position. and fills Legs
Ature with representatives Of moacyed Interests
have advocated Of annual messages to tho
Legislature the adoption OF system Of compulsory voting
and desire to-day briefly auudc 10 the arguments IN
s favor. Citizens formerly compelled to perform
military duty. and service juries Is still matter OF
computation The its sovereign capacity has rish'
upon elccor expressing his sentiments upon
public questions through the baot-box at each annual
election and power properly to enforce that right should
be provided. amendments have been ost
and carried State with only about onetnN OF the
electors Of voting thereon At some OF our annual
elections nearly 300 OF wealth have
failed to vote.
regard compulsory voting as proper aod necessary
supplement several excellent measures enacted last
winter to rrevent corruption elections and without
it. that corruption cannot be wholly
eradatcd The practice which has prevailed much In the
rurs districts hiring to To the polls with their
teams and OF paying extravagant compensation therefor
IA only thin guse for bribery and should be stopped
1t renders an enormously expensive and is demora
izng IN the extreme The proposition which advocate
ompels every ablcboded eccto not prevented BY Sick
ness absence the State other srclent excuse 70
vote at each annual election under penalty OF nne to Do
col,aed for the benefit of the county This innovation
would require all amendment to the State Constitution but
e. k one which would Of Incacuable benefit TO the
poopc of the State This proposition be antaRonred
nv those I'm the country dtricts who present candidates
with e>,oronata charges carriage hire but in
Judgment will receive tn. approval Of honest citizens
everywhere.