Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-23
AUSTRALIANS BALLor-


&.
the SUITE independently Of aay locality.
lore the State Of Masne- l love IT, grand
Cd hills end beautiful valleys. il sea coast
sad msastsine. I lore i.s study sors Ard
I lave iss bsaefi.si daughters. love the
whole State and I tfust tia. vhsfever action
I ray take in this matter which 10 before
a. today, I shall act in the insefesfs OF the
State Of Msine, regIrdle's Of any p.fsonal
feelings or pei aaixs; DO not look upon
this ~ past Fan issue. DO not stand mp
here ~ Republican. have nothing to
say in the Wy Of impuzeirg the motives OF
the Democssts in voting together upon this
issue / give them credit for il. and more
than that. must say that every member Of
this Legislature Of the Democratic party
with WITHIN have formed any
aequaiasanee have impressed me -
noble specimens OF manhood and
- noble representatives Of the State OF
Maine. have nothing 10 say upon this, in
any way, IS q party isaue. Ii seems to me
that the people themselves are not pre-
pared to receive this bsllo. a: present.
Ii seems to me from the present repre-
sensations coming from different portions
Of the State that the people themselves are
unsettled in the matter. do not doubt the
integrity, OF the probiiy, or the honesty OF
heart and sentiment Of every msn who has
spoken on this subject. and yet they are
largely 1t variance. One msu from enc
section Of the State doubtless represents
his commitments 90 far rs he kuows them.
aud another man from another section Of
the State repre- sents biz constituency - far
as he knows them, and We see how ia. they
are ct vsrience. There seems to be
no two localities, hardly. that have
the same sentiments il regard 70 tbis
matter. The people are 10. edu
Gated up to it q: the present time il it is >
good thing it is thing that can keep. We
ind that there is not much change Of sen
.inen, on this subject in the last two years.
Two years ago the House stood 81 TO s5 or
this question: 50 Republicans add 6 Dam
ecrAts against the measure and 10 Demo-
Gratis aud l6 Republicans for the measure.
II reeollect right. that was the way i:
stood then Now it stands in the House,
As we all know, q to II, l3l Republicans
and 40 Democrats. the latter in favor Of il.
There is not much change of sen,imen 10
cur legislature from wis. il; was two years
ago. II this is progressing and fipening,
il the people are becC ming more and more
in favor Of it the .'me viii come in due
season when III. people VIII be resdy for it,
wish to say that st this tina it seems to
me our Leg stature is not ready for the
measure Pscause Of the variance of
opinion upon it, it seems to me n right and
proper thing for US to lay this mater over
and k! IL 60 before the people and thereby
get the sentiment CT the people Of the
State.
Mr.. Spear Of Kennebec-I move the
amendment o. House document 1868 with
amendment "A" which is to strike out all
Of said bill after the enacting clause and
inert ia pisce thereof the following C.
and will explain the bill which offer.
Tie bill presented TO the Senate by the
ma Jriy report OF tie committee as
understand it applies to cities and towns
above 1000 inhabitants with an optional
clause for all towns below 20o0 inhsb.tanss
to accept this process of voting if they SO
desire.
That report was rejected in the House
consideration of it being refused, and
comes mere 10 the Senste. From informe
ton which l think all of us have been
aware of, l became satisfied that
rnsjorisy Of the Senate have
manifested by their vote 10 today
that the bill which was presented by s n
majority report WAS not tn bill which Nc
people of this State wanted and demanded.
therefore introduced q bill originally 70,
the Australian Ballot. so called, pure aud
simple. Excepting plantations, and upon
delIberati0n. cInsu ifaton sod hearing from
pe01la in d ferent paris of the St.tf, |
came TO the conclusion And | ihink tie
members Of the Senate came to the same
conclusion, that the people of his State
were ready for the Australian Ballot pure
and simple, aud applied to every city, &c y,
and p.altilion within the State thereto
the substitute which offer for the mai, tv
report of this coDmitlse, is clear bill
aud applies to every city, town and
plantation in the state, and
| would say for tie later nation
of the Senate that the bill. il
unchanged, eIcspt that it provides for ap.
plyi7 this Law TO plaota;i,ns. The Option
al clause is stricken out Of il sba its sppii-
cation TO towns Of less than 1900 inbabi
tauts is stricken out. The necessary
changes have been male throughout the
hiii 10 make i. correspond with the changes
in the bill by which i. applies to every town,
city and plan ton. A,.o in order 10 make
the bill comply with The requirements OF
the const u ion % tfis State with refer
ence to towns of m1,e than 1000 Inhabitants
The change in sec IN 20 is made dividing
the wards of cities into precincts. The
best lawyers Oh beth sides Of the House
have consulted toxethe. upon and have
-xsmired this bill, have made thete changes
and are satisfied thst The bill ia the form
in which We now have it, in the form in
Which we now lave i. in the amendm
for the majority report is proper bill -,
accomplish the purpose for which it is De
signed, ramsly secret ballot in every
city, tow and planfltion throughout the
S'sie. l hardly feel jus ifei in making
sny remarks in reference TO this matter
after it has already been fully discussed in
both branches But DO desire to cay thel
[ believe. contrary to the gentlemen Eh1
have spoken in opposition 10 this bill, ths'
the people OF the St-te Of Msine from CO
end # it to TIE other sni SIS whole De
maud this bill. And wish TO say TO the
senators from Penobscot, Franklin AZ
other snsll co1uliss or large oop1;ies til,
we are here not 70 enact laws for Penobsct
county or franklin county blu. for the pei
pie Of the whole State, and the law which
satisfies the people Of this State 10 the lAu
which we are in du'y bound to place up,1
the statute book whether i: suits the senator
from Franklin or Penobscot or from any
other c1uuty. believe the bill, which va.
presented before tie House was no. the
bill which the people wanted and that The
bill which. ifss been talked of as applying
to cites vas not the bill which the peopl,
os III. State wanted. The Senator from
oxford states that the people of Oxford
county and all the Republican voters OF
that county wan. this law. II it we're to
exclude towns Of less than 2C00. can the
citizens Of Oxford ca1nty svs,l themselves
of III Ard what right have | or any other
senator 10 say that the people of Oxford
who want this bill shall not have it. There
is logic il the bill which have presented,
and in answer to the senator from Pencb
scot who .ays we have no defiuite idea Of
what We want, ssy believe We have
found Just the idea we want and just
VIA. the people OF this S.a.e want
| want TO cali the attet ton OF this Sensti
10 the growth of popular sentiment in behalf
of this measure and to view briefly the his
tory of this lie gisIstiou -Four years ago il
was scarcely heard of 1t was then deemr d
as an experiment in various States of the
Union. IL had long stood upon the s.stut
books of certain foreign countrie. aud had
operated we'll. Fonr years ago it scarcely
had s.,1ding In Maine Two years age
it vas brought into the Msiae Legislature
ard had respectful vet,. From thai
time the sentiment in favor Of the bill hs.
been crossing so rapidly that in many count
conventions through ,ut the State resolution
approving it have bsen adopted So rapid y
hiss it grown that the State cor.
ven,tons, although the p iiiieian, vho are T.