Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-20

| the whole power Of The executive depart
ment OF the government. to hap slanae
and insult upon maj oriry Of ths House o
Representatives, and upon & respectable
| minority. 1t least, Of the Senate
BY introducing in his paper
| wishous comment, that which everi
man who opposes the Australian bal
lot bill in the House and Senste takes fol
an insuk, and wish tc say further, xnd
| say ii advisedly, thss fron, the first day ol
, the session the KEssEBxc JOURNAL tooi
no part in this discussion on the Australian
ballot bill, nor we're there any editorial,
upon II until the committee on printing haa
signed the printing contract and it had
passed both branches Of this Legislature
But, the ve-y next morning after that con.
tsacs had been approved by the Lsgsslsturs
and signed by the Governor, theY came oa
in favor of the hallot bill, and they have
been in fsvor o: IL ever since; and
nc; only honorstiy ia fsvor OF is
every man who has seen at Il
dider from them. They have heaped iasaI
upon majority Of the House Of Repre-
sen'asivts and upon respectable minority
of the Senate. and upon what beiive to be
the sentiment OF the people of Maine today
Much has been said by the papers, and
also in the discussion in the House when
this matter was under confederation there,
iusims,i1g inst the Republican party was
plscsd ia false position in regard TO this
matter; that msjori.y Of the Represents
tives in opposing this matter were opposing
ba lot reform. and opposing measures that
tended TO purify the elections of the State
Now 1 deny that that is the fact. ]
say .hst the Republican party has
been foremost in every question O.
progress and reform ths! has arisen
IN this State since its existence.
Every measure that has tended toward rs-
form, toward purity Of the ballot, toward
the enlightenment Of the people. or in their
interests, has bsen championed and carried
cut by The Republican party. 1t Ia one OF
the principles of the party that every man
who owes allegiance to the flag, whether
he be black or While, CT whatever be- his
circumstances. or wherever he may live,
he shail have the right to express his free
will al the polls, and lhSt after ho hss ex-
pressed il ne shali have that baiIe. honestly
counted; and ihst is what the Republican
party has bean contendiDg for all these
years ard what it is coniending for today,
The position of the party today is just
The same as it has aiwsys been.
and when you show the Republicans
OF Maine that there is fraud and corruption
81 the polls; when you show them tina,
these 81 senators and 15I representatives
IN the House have been elected here by
fraud ard intimidation; when yoa show
ths. their seats have been tainted With
fraul--tbgp tha papubttnan t,.rty II; n
will be willing to sdops this measure If they
can be satisfied it will remedy the evils
that the ftiends of the measure say exist a,
this time. But il must be shown that this
is necessity. 1t must be shown that the
evils which are claimed to exist, do exis;
and then it must be shown that this bill will
accomplish the results which are claimed
for it, and will remedy the evils which
are said to exist. Then the Republican
party in its State, county and class conven-
tions will instruct its representatives to
come MP here and vote for Is; and when
taey Instruct them so to come you will ind
a majority Of both branches of the legisls.
ture in favor of it. Bu. / do not believe
they will take this matter for granted until
it is shown that this condition OF thir gs
exists; aud ua,il more proof is shown thai
this measure will correct the evils claimed
70 exist. This is the position, believe, Of
tho Republican party. believe today it Is
not opposed to ballot reform or to the
purifying of elections. II simply wants to
he convinced that there is fraud and
intimidation aud the extent Of it; and
II it does exist to any extent
that this bill will correct IL; srd
then you will fnd the Republican party as
i. has Always besa 10 the psst, il favor OF
that measure. This matter came up for
discussion two years ago. II vas referred
to the committee on legal affairs, aud then
ii was carefully considered II vas re-
ported into the House, and there it was dis
cussed and re jscied. II came up TO the
Senate aad was fairly discussed snd wss
ri ject.d, and we were tod in both branches
that IL this measure were not adopted il
would be death blow to the Republican
psr.y. thHt it would nc impossible for them
70 carry electiGns, that they would
pu, themselves On record Ga
against ballet reform, and the
purity Of the bsll,t box. 1t has been die
cussei more or less ever since. 1t was az
te np'ei t, introduce it into the convent o.
of 1900 delegates last summer. comins Z
net introduce into the Stste cenven-
ton a plank advocating the Australian
ballot; snd vet this Legislature coming
here with but five OF its members instruct
ed to vote for The Australian bsllos OF
secret sgstem OF voting. Nov If the pso-
pie were as interested in it as il claiGed
here, and IL there wers necessity for it,
Why is il that Only five out of lS2 repre
serts'ises come here instructed to vote foI
il? Daes 1t shaw that there Ia sentiment
for il? | say il shows cancius!vaIy they 'o
not believe in this system Of elections, ard
are not in favor off. Until the rs presntziives
vho sess 20 pass this law are instructed in
some manner in regard 10 it, il i'll becomes
ihsm 10 vote npon it. Oat Of the l25 00C
voters in the Stste tf Maine but 300 have
peii.ioned foT it. Less In number have pc
tliioned for this measure than have beea
disfrsnchissd ia sistes whsre is is Law
today. | say there has been no expression
here of the people that warrant The repre-
sabtatiyes of the people in this Legislature
in adopting so radical change in the
sh1le elsctive franchise Of the State, aud
| em willing upon that fact alone 10 rss
my Caae, that, until they are satisfied tina
there iq a necessity for it, and until theY
instruct their representatives. to vote for i
in come manner. that We shoule
hssitsta & loug time before We adopt sys
TEN that will revolg;iopize things as ;hi.
MEASURE will, if adopted. The burden j.
upon the friends of this measure TO shov
there is necessity If this measure TkeS
teirg forward measure that is to cbsggt
the whole elective machinery Of the State
Y 10 ! n1u tar hat kaa ls,ks-
vogue ever since the State was admitted Il
the L Gnion. For oTe. seveG;y yesrs th'
people of tha State have bsliosed openly
and freely; and nov measure is broush
here to change ell this radically. Aud whec
they have shown the ex sing necessity, tn
burden il upon them, slso 10 show that tn
bill will remedy the evils thst they claiE
to xist, and that n suits will follow as the
a'ssrt.
II regard 10 the necessity uf measure oi
this kind. The matter was heard bsfor,
the judicisry committee at two seSera
swes. Notice Was given ia every dali.
pspax in the State Of Maine snd in mar,
weekly papers; and it was carefnly eon
stdered by the committee; and grea
many citizens in whom we have perfee
confidence. in high position, came bsfor
the committee. Many OF han said il VS.
their opinion thst tie measure should b
adopted There vas a member Of th,
ust,onsi Republican committee,
member OF the State eora;si te
| and members ef minor commit:ees
but they did not claim for ms
ment, they denied the fsct that there was In
timidatian at the p7ils to the exten; that wi
clsimea by many Of the friends Of lbi
measure. 0ae who stood upan the flor o
the Senate two years ago aDd advoesss
/ this measure, sal! he did not believe