Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-08
FOR BALLOT REFORM.

The State Association Once More Strongly
Advocates the Baker Bill.
The Pennsylvania Ballot Reform Associa-
tion has issued the following appeal to the peo-
pie of the State:
"The ballot reform campaign has been ac-
lively carried on during the past three months,
but victory is not yet wholly assured. The
Baker bill has passed second reading in the
House, but has still to pass finally both there
and in the Senate. The mere delay in the
progress of the bill hitherto is not of itself
alarming. The importance of the measure
and the need of carefully adapting and adjust
ing the new system in detail to those parts Of
our election law which it is not proposed to
alter. aswell as of guarding against every vio-
lation OF the spirit of the system, have involved
time for full consideration in committee and in
the House. Any further delay must, however,
be regarded as most dangerous. and if there
should prove 20 be any real intention to defeat
the bill in the Senate this will be effected by
delay.
"The enemies of ballot reform, outside the
Legislature as well as in it, have left no stone
unturned In opposing the bill. The sincerity
OF its advocates has been challenged, but
mainly by persons outside the State. 1t has
been stigmatized as party measure, whereas
nothing less partisan can be imagined. Its
constitutionalIty has been questioned for the
fimsiest reasons, though even IL 1t were con-
ceivable that its method of dealing with the
present numbering system should not be held
TO accord fully with the true intent of the Con-
stitution. that feature alone would fall, the
rest of the system remaining intact. The ex-
pense involved has been enormously exagger-
ated, and the same is true of the time required
In voting the sample election at Harrisburg
having proved that, even allowing for some de-
lays, votes can be received on an average Of
one every so seconds. The effectiveness to
prevent intimidation and bribery has been de-
MED in the face of uniform testimony of over
30 years. The bill has been claimed to be de-
signed to prevent the calling of Constltu-
tlonai Convention to effect a change in the
registration law, and. perhaps. the numbering
system, though it passes comprehension that a
law which cannot be In force till next autumn
should affect the action of tie present Legisla-
ture as to matters outside the scope of that
Law, or that law to give public opinion greater
weight at elections could be adverse to the fu-
ture accomplishment of anything the people
might wish. This association believes how
ever, that these misrepresentation and shall
low arguments have not deceived the people.
THE situation strongly resembles that re-
Gently witnessed in Maine. Here as there, an
element in the Legislature is hostile to ballot
REFORM Here. as has been done there, that
element should be forced to yield to a just
popular demand Both States are Republican
strongholds, and the party which has been held
to Its promises there should not be allowed to
break them here.
I'm a great popular movement the people
must themselves take an active part. We call
upon all citizens, therefore, irrespective of
party. to renew their appeals to both Senators
and Representatives to support the Baker
bill. and we call upon the press to voice the
sentiment of the people as it has already SO
ably done. If the people are in earnest the re-
suit cannot be doubtful"