Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-13

FIDENT OF TARIFF REFoRM.
The Baltimore Sun this morning publishes
| an interview which its Washington CORE
| spondent had with ex-President Cleveland yes
| terday at the latter's law Office in New York.
| when entered his ROOM" Mr.. Richardson
| writes, che was gazing at large pile OF
| freshly-opened letters. He said: This is my
| daily experience. People from all over the
country write to me upon all conceivable sub
jects and insist upon an answer. remarked
| that it was quite natural people should wish to
have his views upon matters Of public interest.
He said he would much prefer to withdraw
| from the public and be able to devote his time
| to his law business.
when he went to Boston with the late Henry
| Grady he had prepared with the utmost care
the speech which he delivered In it he had
| endeavored to give his views frankly and
! fully upon the matters which he regarded as OF
| public interest. and he thought that would
relieve him from the necessity OF any further
expressions for long time to come. But he
| had been woefully disappointed. 1t seemed to
HIM as if every democratic club in the country
wanted him to write letter, and If he did
yield and write one it was sure to be published.
The requests he had received to write letters
| for Andrew Jackson eighth Of January ami
versaries was almost legion. Picking up a
letter from the pile in front of him he said:
Here Is one from gentleman OF Baltimore
wanting me to write letter to the association
| of which he is the president
BALLOT REFORM.
ssMr. Cleveland then asked me about Mary
land politics. He thought the democratic
party of Maryland was a splendid organize
tion and he hoped whatever discussions ex-
listed would be speedily, tremendously and per-
manently settled. In discussing the question
of ballot reform 1 SAID to him that some of the
southern democratic leaders at Washington
were fearful that adoption of the Australian
system would imperil democratic supremacy.
At this he was surprised. as he did not see why
there should be any fear on that score. But
| said he. have never looked upon this ques-
ton from that point Of view. 1 have never
debated in my own mind whether the removal
OF trickery from the voter would injure or
benefit the democratic party. Ballot re-
form is right, and that is why
think it should be adopted
He said Gov. Albeit of New Jersey and Gov
Campbell of Ohio were two of the most astute
politicians in the country and no one could be
more pronounced in favor Of the principle than
each of them. Referring to the late municipal
election in Boston, which had frequently been
held up warning to democratic advocates
OF the Australian system, he said it was folly to
ascribe the republican victory to the effects of
the new voting law. The law had nothing
whatever to do with it and no better proof
could be asked of the value and justice Of the
measure than the fact that ali the leading
Massachusetts democrats were entirely satisfied
with its operations. As to the arguments that
THE UNEDUCATED VOTER
would be embarrassed and in many instances
deprived of his privilege, Mr.. Cleveland could
not see that there was anything in it. Nothing
could be easier than the adoption of some sign
or device apparent to the most ignorant indi-
eating the political complexion Of the candi-
1,t1 -, Al. Al
plan would be to have lists of all candidates
printed on one ticket. the signs to be adopted
starting at the top of each list and indicating
to which party the candidates belonged. The
voter could then by one mark indicate his
intention to vote for all the candidates
of his party. He did not approve of
the proposition requiring the voter to
make mark opposite each candidate of his
party. This was cumbersome and laborious
and would result disadvantageously SO far as
both the educated and the uneducated voter
was concerned. Many business and profess
sional men would not take the trouble to make
cross or mark opposite every name. This
provision would also give the voter who was
not able to read his ticket all the protection
and consideration to which he was entitled. 1t
would not prevent the independent voter from
scratching any individual candidate objection
able to him. The vital principle of ballot
reform he regarded as lodged in the official
ballot. To permit an unofficial ballot would
leave the door as wide open as ever to bribery
and corruption. An official ballot only
would sweep away to very great extent, if not
entirely, all excuse for
CAMPAIGN FUNDS,
that fruitful source of bribery and corruption
for if the state paid all the expenses of the
elections there would be little plea to levy
assessments upon candidates and contributions
from interested outsiders. The necessity Tor
ballot reform was most urgent, and Indiana a
state most capable Oh judging and appreciat-
ing the evils OF the present situation, was ripe
for the movement in that direction. In the
last presidential campaign this virus of cOrrup-
ton of the voter had passed largely into the
rural districts of New York, and thousands of
voters who never before had cast any but an
honest ballot had yielded to temptation, and
for twO-dollar bills voted against their own con-
victions. If not arrested by legislation it
would be much worse at the next
general election. The area of bribery
and corruption would increase, the
takers of brides would double
in numbers and in price,. and the corruption
funds would inevitably work to greater and
mites for bribery as far as possible to a mini
mum would result in drawing party lines
closer than ever before, FOR the general voter,
with no temptation TO swerve him, would nat
urally cast his ballot for the party to which he
was allied, however loosely. He expressed his
perfect confidence that public sentiment was
running strongly in favor OF ballot reform and
he believed it would ere long be sufficiently
powerful to compel respect and obedience
from reluctant Legislators.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Speaking of civil service reform, Mr.. Cleve-
land said it was quite apparent that many of
the politicians OF both parties would be de-
lighted il they could smother it out of existence
by withholding the necessary appropriations
for its maintenance. or course they would
not have the courage to kill il directly. There
was little fear they would succeed even by in
direction, for the principle had too firm a hold
upon the country to be destroyed, and he
enlarged and its benefits extended. He had
always taken the deepest interest in civil SER
vice reform, and in his messages to Congress
had constantly dwelt upon its importance.
while this is his feeling upon the subjec. and
while believe nothing could drive him from a
constant and sincere support of civil service
reform, / thought discovered a slight sign OF
disappointment in his illusions to the manner
in which some Of his acts had been interpreted
by those from whom he had right to expect
different treatment / think he doubts the
sincerity of some gentlemen in various sections
who have posed as the champions Of civil SER
vice reform.
THE TARIFF.
passing to the subject of tariff reform
found Mr.. Cleveland earnest and animated. He
| is as enthusiastic AS when he wrote his cele-
brated message of December. 1887. and has
lost none of his faith IN the ultimate success of
the cause. inquired what would be the demo-
cratic tariff platform for 1892. and what if any,
other issues than tariff civil service and ballot