Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-09
1hs AQetrsliau Ballot.

Following are abstracts OF the speechs $
on the Aus'rslian ballot 81 STAN msde in the
House Of Il representatives. last Friday after
noon.
MIR. Psysol of Portland-I had not
intended, Mr.. Speaker, to say anything
upon thi. question. was in some what the
same position as was ny ,lleSgue who
spoke before the recess this morning He
had no, made up his mind 10 speak unless
certain things were said about the city OF
Portland Those things hs, paned TO be
said. consequnt ntly he vas called upon to
speak. tad told him this m ,rping that
should not speak unless certain things were
said about the city Of Portlsnd which did
not believe to be true. Those things were
said and therefore feel call called upon
a. one Of the reprs sentatives from the city
of Portlsnd to express my viess upon some
matters that have teen said this mprniu z
relative to that city, 1t is true, as my col
lSagie STATE d this mcrDiDg. tha. there have
been some suggestions as I, the course
which sh0 lid be adopted by the represent.
stives from that city upon this question.
do not believe the position taken by my
colleague is false one. bslieve that any
member Of the city delegation is entirely free
t. vote upon this q leS,ion AS his codscieece
may dictate. L. Is true, however, and l
simply speak of this in order 10 show some
whas the sentiment Of the city Of Portland.
tha. at the cou atty convs n'iou certain reso-
luiions Nere adopted, and have copy of
ih9se resolutions here and viii read them
to the House:
"Resolved. That the Republican psrtT,
being the party Of progress, believe that
Hb, ,f a.. kallo -. ~,
ite stste and nation. To surround it with
every possible protection ia part Of good
governmei t, ard to this end the Republicans
Of Cumberland county endorse the secret
sy.tem Of vo ing with official ballots"
Certain resolutions were also adopted at
the convention to nominate candidates for
tais Les siss,uye, and viii read those:
"Resolved. That the purity Of the ballot
il III. safegusrd Of the STA and nation
To surround it With every possible protec-
tion is part of COED government. aud to
this end the Republicans of Portland en-
oor.e the secret system Of voting with
Off ticisi bsllos."
Now. my colleague from Por.lani, as ]
understand him. said upon the l,or Of this
House this morning that the resoluti sns
adopted by the county convention and by
the cohventinn to nominate candidates for
representatives were tame, and referred to
them IS some = hat similar to those adopted
at the Sta'e coavention-simpIr resolutions
in favor Of purity of election Now. leave
it to the good judgment Of this HOuse if
anything can lie plsiner than the language
used to chow tia. the Republicans Of the
city of Portland are in favor of this Aus
trxii.n system of ballot. "And to this end
The Republicans OF Cumberland county,
"snd to this end the Republicans of Port
lani endorse The secret system OF voting
with the oili ;ial b.llots." No~. gentlemen,
the frat statement that my col.esgIe made
with reference to the opinion of ,he city of
Portland upon this question wa, denial
lie deniei tLat largs proportion of the
Republicans Of Portland were in favor OF
this system Of votiog. As he
us,med up TO his subject he
then claimed ,hst majority Of the
Republicans OF Portland were against it
Warming up still more, he then clsimed
that vast majority of the Republicans OF
Portland were sg.;ns. it and going even
hey ond that he made the assertion thi'
morning that he did not know n prominent
Republican in the city OF Portland who
rot feel it recsssary. gentlemen, to leave
thai ststemeps 10 the good Judgement Of
this House, do not leiieve it calls for
any denial. do not hesitate to staii! here
snd asse't that 10 my jadgemeh;-aud OF
eonrse this must be, TO large extsrt. 4
matter of npinion--,hat in my judgement y
large m' ,ri.y Of the citizens Of Portlsnd
and OF the county Of Cumherlard favor this
secret system Of voting with officsl ballots
say, in support Of tits opinion that 10,
oaiy every daily paper in the city Of Port
land ~ith one exception, sod that l viii
r. fer 10 = little later. but So far as knou
every weekly paper IL In favo' # this same
system. The one exception is the
Evening Express, which. two or three
weeks ago, came ont with An editorial in
opposition to this way If votiaS After
the bill had been sUen5:d somewhat in the
juiiciary Committee and bal been reparied
III thi. new draft, even the Evering FIX.
press. unless am mistaken. and may he,
even the Evening Express in sn editorial
stated that some of the most prominent Oh
jsctiors to the bill had been removed and
although the Express, a. understood ii
10 i'll opposed to the measure, yet I sss. r,
that IL is he only psoer in the city Of Port
land aha, /, opposed to i,. Nov, one thno
more upon this point. As a further injics
ton of the opinion and wishes of the CHI
zsns Of the city OF Portland. a. our Iss
election ,hs Republic an party in the city sl
Portland adopted for the Caucus this yer,
sy stem. What stronger evidence IL needed
of the opinion Of the city Of Portland
Oae thing more. Our city government
within two weeks has paased reso
u,ions in favor of the system and hs
Instructed the clark Of the city 70 send Il
each member Of the delegation hare q c1pJ
Of them not - An Instruction but simply a.
| an intima,ioa, as An expression of IN,
opinion Of the citizens of Portland. N3~
gentlemen, n seems to me that the discus
siou upon this question 10 somevhst one o
expedisncy. While believe thst eues
tions of public nature like this should b.
di,cussed from . higher standpoint ;hal
that OF simple party expediehcy, yet
desire to state that asa member Of III
Republican party. and a. one who bx
| aisays voted the Republican ticket,
believe thst - matter Of permanent part
| policy no better measure can be adopted
Ii has got I, come soon and If We do NJ
ADOPT i, st this session of the Legislature
believe is will be forced upon upon tn
Republican party, If the party renal
in power long enough. and IL nc
/ adopted by tia: party will be taken up b
the Democratic psrty. Nov, gentlemen,
closing hsve simply to ray one thing.
do ros propose to 60 into ths merits Of th
bill. I DO not propose to discuss the CO,
! siitu,ionsl question which was raised ih
: morning by my colleague from Poftlsn,