New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-24

A
swFR TO TIE PEOPLES MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
-p,ssrTT,s STRAIGHTFORWARD REPLY.
Tho Doocratlc candidate Tor Governor has tried 10
dodge tbe balot-reform issue. The Peoples MnniolPu
Ieare sent letters to the candidates for "oVerhor anu
Lieutenant Governor, asking for an expression vi oP
ion upon the subject Of the blanket banot ING o
Spouse came from Mr.. Fassett quickly ana II was
frank manly. short and TO the point. There was no
et,,ddlinc IN that Mr. Fassett came right out INTO
the omen and told the world that he was In favor OF
The bIonlet ballot first last and all the time, whether
lie was elected or not.
Eleven DAYS after Mr.. Fassetts reply was received
another letter reached the headquarters OF the feope
Municipal League And then what disappointment
Il was Mr. Faseett took 100 words to declare I'M
eouivocay nj, adherence to the blanketballot doc
t,iro and Mr. Flower uses 400 words to say
nothinr He was undoubtedly afraid to declare him
self I'm favor Of the blanket ballet, because eve0y
wa ID heeler in TammGny Hall would rise Up In MS
might and say ,...
~Whot's to become wild us if yer to have honest
electlonsl' ,.,
lie did not want honest elections or anything which
youh cause the Tammany boys" TO be useless. On
tbo other hand. his letter shows that he feared
IN brave the indignation OF whatever respectable ele
men there might chance TO be left in the Democratic
marty III the state. SO anxious was he, however 10
,adde the issue that he and the advisers who helped
him 10 compose the letter lost sight OF the od ana
homely adage: Consistency, thou art jewel"
"Nou will probably ne says, "agree with me thae
q cqndlate for the Office of Governor ought not IN
advance of responsible and definite legislative debate
and NJ tho public discussion which ought TO ana
usually does attend and follow such debates 10 ohu
himself 10 the precise form Of a proposed law'
From tris Il might be supposed that ballot reform
and the blanket ballot were new subjects WHICH hau
bcen discussed little or not at all in this community
thor his :
mo . he saws. and then proceeds to quote himself
n nrove IT, The following is this marvellous letter
IN full: n...,.,.
Municipal League.
Sir. have your letter together with the sample
blanket belo. which proposed by friends OF bSotFe
FORM You will probably agree with me that cahuua.o
for the Office OF Governor ought not IN ADVANCE o
bic and definite legislative debat6 and OF the pubic as
sson which ought TO and usually does attend and follow
M dehocs 70 hind himself to the precise form Of pro-
poscd law This is especially true when the measure
touches upon subjec: the largest public Importance
and is as any ballot must necessarily be- somewhat
technical in It's character -.
about nv posn I'm tho matter OF this great and necessary
reform The Democratic party is committed by It's gen
oral sentiment in the and by the declaration OF us
t convention at Saratoga 10 extension Of the sys-
ZEN Of secret voting. Furthermore ~'er 'ne
recnt election we shall have had in NcwYork the benefit
Of two years practical experience in the operation Of the
,,s,t hoos law We shall have been Instructed by four
veors' unsedsh and intelligent advocacy OF this reform
And II the public OF State shall, with all s
light favor any proper extension or amendment oi c
ballot law SHALL elected Governor, fee bound TO give 1t
my support.
This is no new doctrine for In address by tbs
National Association Of Democratic Clubs, made after the
election OF 1885 heartily Joined my associates In saying
that the two o.: monopoly, bribery ana ntmuauo
must be struck down. and that claws securing the most
absolute secrecy OF the ballot must be enacted and
enforced"
III my opinion practical experience, not only In Oui
own State but IN our sister States has shown that the
Democratic party the principles which it represents
arr most truly served and viii be most proated by those
avs which thoroughly secret and unbought vote
thank you for the opportunity you have given me
t make this statement OF my views upon this subject
and 10 correct mlsapprehenson which otherwise might
arise. Yours respectfully Il. L. fLoWhn'
7 corcrr in tho foregoing W. f. SHEEHAN.
The following letters have been received by the
Ican,e,s officers from Mr.. Fassett and Mr.. Vrooman
oswego, y. Y, oct. u, 1891.
Hon Wheeler II. Peckham
Nv Dear Sir Please say to the members OF the Peoples
Municipal League that not only now In favor OF
genuine Australian blanket ballot such as you describe IN
IT. essential features but 1 ot the time 5IOoO
citizens Detitioned Legislature for such REFORM ana
sa continue to favor the whether elected or not
For believe such ballot law opens the surest way to
all five citizens OF the State cast their votes without fear
mp hindr3nce or conpuson any kind from any man OF
ctca organization 1t Is the only satisfactory guarantee
Of genuine manhood suffrage. Yours very truly,
JACOB SLOAr FASSETT.
heartily concur in the foregoing expressions Of Mr.
Fasee upon question Of ballot reform and manhood
outrage JOHN ". VRooMAN.