New-York tribune., 1890-01-19
WORK FOR BALLOT REFORM.
TO OPEN GOVERNOR HILLS EYES.
CHANCE Fo.. ALL THE READERS OF THE
TRIBUNE TO SIGN THE PETITION Io
THE LEGISLATURE IN FAVOR OF
THE sAxTON BILL

THE sAxToN BILL
The friends and advocates of ballot reform are
actively pushing their campaign and before
the end of the present week the signers of the
New-Yorlx BALLOT Reform Leagues petition are
expected 10 number tens Of thousands. The work
in this city has been carried on under the drec-
tion Of the Committee on Enrolment. with head
Quarters in Room 46, No - Cortlandt-st., OF
which Oliver Sumner Tcall is chairman, A. j.
Steers secretary and Patrick Rock. James w.
Pryor and c. F. j. DOody members. The gen
eral committee, of which Horace f. Deming Is
chairman, is composed of all shades of political
opinion, and strong, united, determined ana en-
thusiastc purpose is shown TO bring Governor liill
face to face with the fact that the people OF New
York State wholly regardless Of party differences,
have made up their minds that they want to see a
ballot reform bill which contains the five principles
given herewith in the blank petition Incorporated
in the statute law. These principles are plainly
printed upon little petitions in pad form oi size
that can easily be slipped into a side pocket con-
venient for use, with blank spaces for the sigma
ture and address of the signer. In sending these
petitions out the committee accompanies 'no"'
with the following letter
Inclosed please find pad of Ballot Reform peti-
tiOns. We earnestly request that You VIII issle. NV @
League by signing yourself and inducing your
friends 10 sign tie rest. In a work of this KIND.
which is entirely dependent upon volunteer labor ana
in which there is financial or personal advantage 10
be gained it is extremely difficult to enlist inc CO.
operation and active assistance Oh 'nV fV
large number Of workers required TO make IL
a Success Many Of those interested in this move
ment have given il great deal OF tme al great per
sonal inconvenience and often with serious neclect
Of their business Interests and while such personal
sacrifices must necessarily be made by few we Deg
that YOU will do your part also. We doing our
best to send monster petition 70 Albany 1t, size
depends upon the number of signatures, we hccd
yours and all yOn can get you certainly can secure
some and every one counts.
1t should be borne in mind that the system of
voting proposed by the ballot reformers Is no
new or untried experiment. The voters of Aus
tralia have had it i'll use for thirty years For
fourteen years the people of Canada have tried
it. In Belgium, Italy and England it has been
the legal method OF voting from seven TO twelve
years and Norway has used it for five years. In
eleven States of the Union it has been adopted IN
whole or in part including Massachusetts, Wis
consin, Rhode Island, Indiana, Michigan, Con-
necticut, Montana and Mississippi. From all of
them come the same report and Endorsement
The Australian system of voting works splen-
didly.' In no State or country has it ever been
repealed ,.-,, e.,..
benefits of this excellent law, which does away
with bribery and intimidation at The polls
Twice the Legislature has passed ii with a ma
jority almost large enough TO make ii effective
over the objections of the Governor But each
time Governor Hill had refused TO sanction il.
III QenNcrlng MS NetOcS on IneSe OcCdSIOuS It Hds
accompanied them with alleged argumente, all
of which have been shown 10 be grOundIess ana
worthless There can be 6,.ody only one ms, reply ePPNS
brought forward against the SaXton bill. and thal
is to let him know that he has placed himself
in opposition TO the united, overwhelming force
OF the voting population OF the State ana tna'
a continuance in such opposition means the ter
mination of his political existence. This can
be done by the universal signature of the ballot
reform petitions in every city, county, town and
believer
elections, every advocate OF a government by the
people not only sign the petitions of the New
York Ballot Reform League, but let him also
lend his active aid 10 procuring the signatures
of others. and giving his assistance 10 the work
OF the League by every means in his power
Then will not only the Governor. but every
city of New-York learn that an unaltcrablc
public sentiment demands the passage OF this
measure, and that the man-legislator or Cover
nor-who stands in the way Of this great reform
digs his political grave Let all good citizens 90
to work and hurry forward the petitions
Here is the blank petition. New-fork readers
should cut it out and send it 70 Oliver Summer
Teall, No. II Cortlandt-st., after signing IT,
Brooklyn and Long Island readers should send
the signed petition to Edwin \. Curley, No. 80
Concord-st., Brooklyn:
To the Honorable Senate and Assembly of the state
=, DO hereby petition the Honorable Legislature, Of
which Shall embody tie following principles:
l..A ballots shall be official and shall be printed
and distributed at the public expense.
2.-The names OF all candidates for the same Office |
shall be printed the ballot
3.-A ballots shall be delivered TO the voter within
the polling place on election day by sworn public |
4.-Only official ballots so delivered shall be voted
The voter shall be guaranteed absolute privacy in pre-
pairing his ballot and the secrecy Of the ballot Shall
5.-voters Shall have the right 10 nominate cand-
date tate by properly certified i,, petitions
Respectfully yours,
p1;I....--c.oo - - --'-'''' '.----..