Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-27
THE PRETEyT FOR TT.

Touching the discussion of the press on
the Constitutional Convention proposition,
the Philadelphia Times says: $50 far the
majority of their expressions are hostile,
and if the newspapers accurately repre-
voted down. But the IiWes goes on to
say that the labor vote has not been repre-
sented in the opposition to the convention,
and as the labor interests want an abso-
lutely, secret ballot, without waiting for
the ordinary process of Constitutional
amendment, cit will be well for the peO-
pie of all shades of opinion to regard the
convention as at least possibility, If not
probability" -.--..-
This is equivalent to asserting that the
laboring classes are so blind to the inter
ests of the whole State that they are will
ing to subject its entire fundamental law
to emasculation in the interest of privi-
legged classes, because they have
an idea that single provision
can be changed. The superstition
for it is nothing more-that the ballot
numbering clause of the Constitution must
be repealed in order to secure secret bal
lot always has and always will disappear
before argument. 1t is plain proposition
that an election board which will violate
the law requiring the numbered lists to be
sealed before the ballot-box is opened and
the number on the ballots to be kept secret
by folding them down, will violate the
other provisions of ballot reform law
which establish secrecy The only diff
ence will be that the numbered ballots
aid detection of fraud, and without them
detection of any violations of the law
would be difficult.
Beyond that what guarantee is there
that Constitutional Convention organ
ized as this one is to be, framed for the es-
pecial purpose of forestalling independent
action in the selection of delegates, would
give the people genuine ballot reform if it
should take up the subject? The stream
is rarely purer than its source; and it is
a cogent fact that the same element in the
Senate which reduced the ballot reform
bill to the rank of a green goods game
framed the Constitutional Convention pro-
ject. 1t is faulty for any friends of pure
politics to expect genuine ballot reform
uuucI SuCu duSplCoo
The decision of the whole question turns
upon the fact that much greater issues are
at stake than ballot reform. We do not
believe the working people will vote with
their eyes open to clear the way for
mutilation of the Constitution so as to re-
move its restrictions upon corporations and
municipal rings. 1t is one of the vital
points of the controversy that, under the
ballot reform pretext, the elements actu-
ally hostile to ballot reform have got up
the convention proposition with the pur-
pose constantly cropping out of removing
the restrictions which check some corpora
tions from running things as they choose
and restrain some politicians from work
ing their sweet will in local administra-
ton.
Ballot reform can be secured when the
people elect legislators who will sincerely
carry out their pledges. The minor amend
ments to the Constitution can be decided
on thei: merits by separate submission to
the people, But good way to prevent
the splendid Constitutional provisions that
now exist from being wiped out for the
benefit of sordid interests is for the people
to vote down this Constitutional Conven-
ton project, conceived and shaped by the
representatives of monopoly and practical
politicians.