The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-20

TnR REPUBLICAN Legislature OF I
Pennsylvania by not providing Forreal i
ballot reform is doing what it can for /
Democratic control OF the State. Presl- |
dent Harrison, n day or two ago, |
snubbed Quay, let the Republicans Of
the Pennsylvania legislature snu5 his /
Hllam ballot reform work.
Now LET Ex-President Cleveland lake
southern tour and let tho people SEQ
tho difference between Democratic
ex-President and live Republican
President. II the people measure tho
two by brains and ability and vote ac-
cordingly Harrison would get two
votes to one for Cleveland, even
amongst Democrats. ..-
Constitutional Convention Defeated.
The friends of constitutional reform
through new constitution, have met
with another defeat. They have not
been enabled to find the key that un-
locks the old Instrument and paves
the way to the new. The people are
disappointed and chaSrined TO think
that they must cripple along under an
oifete and worn out constitution, en-
tlrely inadequate to the times for the
want OF few hundred votes more, and
1t is the more humiliating to think
that these few hundred votes were lost
Cor want Of one.half the exertion usu-
ally displayed to get out the vote at
common primary election. A great
many causes will be assigned for this
humiliating defeat, but tho greatest
cause seems to have been the general
apathy and indifference OF large por-
ton of the voters. Many men looked
upon as OF more than average intelli-
gence, hardly knew that an election
for Constitutional Convention was
being held.
We met leading business man in
the street yesterday, who seeing that
an election was being held and that the
saloons were closed, asked us what
was going on. We felt provoked that
such question should be asked from
ono who ought to have known for
himself what was going on; but We
felt more vexed when, upon being in
formed about the election being held,
and of the cause of the closing of the
saloons, ending with an invitation to
60 and vote he said, 40, havo pretty
much given up those things, quit
reading the newspapers and don't care
what is done" We hope there were
not large number OF this class of
people who did not vote yesterday for
the same reasons. Tie man who went
to the polls and voted outright plump
against calling a constitutional con
vention, is TO lie honored to this know
nothing class, that did not know an
election was being held
We know now that there is a large
number OF people In the State opposed
10 calling a constitutional convention.
They had not 10 go to the polls and
vote to declare their sentiments OF op-
position while they could do 1t more
electually and their votes be counted
all the same against convention by
simply remaining away from the polls
Even the little handful who went t.
the polls and voted boldly against
calling n convention need not have
done so, their votes would have been
es effective against 1t had they not
been cast Still we cannot resist the
belief that large majority Of tho yo
ters Of Delaware would have voted fol
Q convention had they gone to the
election and voted at all. Though
Wilmington did not poll within two
thousand votes oil what she SHOULD
have polled, the great falling off is ii
the country, where at this season o
The year the farmers are very bus,
with their crops and did not spare thu
time to 60 and vote.
But after all light is breaking ahead
Through the Pilling amendment, thi
election for calling a Constitutions
Convention may hereafter be hold or
the day Of general election insteac
Of In May when farmer voters are busy
This amendment however has gaunt
let OF thorns to run before it can be
come effective. The next legislator
nrx:saI aIProye 1t by two.third vot
OF each Nouse before 1t becomes al
smendnhnt to tho constitution
Then IL THAT legislature approves OF
II may of may not order an electlol
70 be held for calling a convention O
u may order such vote to be take
sither In May or November. So slo,
does constitutional reform move i
\ Delaware and the foil owing program
will show how slow 1t moves. Unti
the next legislature meets Will be tw
years.