The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-10-30
BLOOMSBURG PA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 80 1891.

Convention, the one recommended by
the Governor and approved by both
parties in the late legislature. 1t need
not be much, if any more, expensive
than the other plan, and it brings the
reform with absolute certainty and
without delay.
We say that by means of a con-
vention Ballot Reform would certain
ly be achieved. We say this without
any regard to the composition of the
convention. Whether majority of
the delegates chosen to that conven-
ton shall be known by one party
name or the her, they would have
no choice whatever in the matter.
They would be elected for this pur-
pose. Nine-tenths, possibly even
greater proportion, OF the people of
Pennsylvania demand the reform, and
the man or the party VINO should, in
this convention, called for that very
purpose, venture to oppose it, would
simply invite destruction. Those who
fear that the bosses, the rings, and the
corporations may control the peoples
convention and defeat this reform, in
dulge vain and silly fancy. Neither
this nor any other harm can be done
in the convention. The party which
should propose to do harm in it would
succeed only in running itself and its
representatives without accomplishing
even momentarily its corrupt object,
since the people would reject promptly
their work at the polls in November
and we would be just where we were
at the start.
What does Ballot Reform mean to
the people of Pennsylvania ? 1t
means legislatures aud public officials
of all kinds responsible to the people
and not to the political machines.
1t means emancipation from the rule
of rings, bosses and monopolies. 1t
means taxes honestly laid and equally
distributed. 1t means lighter taxes
and frugal expenditures. 1t means
pure elections, and thereby pure gov
ernment. 1t means, as Mr.. Cleveland
puts it, 'the perpetuation of free insti-
tutions' now threatened by the use Of
money in elections and by the intimi-
dation of vast masses of dependent
voters. In this state two hundred
thousand workingmen alone signed pc
titions to the late legislature fot the
passage of Constitutional Conven
ton bill with view to securing the
secret, free and pure ballot. With the
emancipation from evil influences and
tyrannical power OF the multitude of
dependent electors, whose votes are
now used to kill the votes of independ-
ent farmers and other citizens, there
will come an instant change in the
legislation and administration of
Pennsylvania. The benehcent pro-
visions of our fundamental law will be
enforced. Taxes will be equalized.
Determinations against the industries
of our Commonwealth will cease.
And government by the people and
for the people will take the place OF
government by the bosses and for the
bosses.
We ask the people of Pennsylvania,
without distinction of party, to vote
for Constitutional Convention and
for such delegates as they know will
respect their will. We believe that nc
harm can possibly be done, and that
the good proposed and practically as
sured is beyond all estimation.
RESOLUTIONS ON CONVENTION.
The following resolution was passed
by the Democratic Convention of Col
umbia county on the nth of August
last, to-wit
"ResOlced, By the Democrats Of
Columbia County this day in Conven,
ton met. That we are in favor of a
Constitutional Convention with a
special request that secret ballot
provision be made"
On the end Of September last the
Democratic State Convention assem-
bled at Harrisburg and passed reso-
luton favoring a Constitutional Con
vention.