The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-05-23
Senator Rapsher on Ballot Reform.

We reprint from the Legislative Re
cord the following remarks on Ballot
Reform by Senator Rapsher
Mr.. Chairman, in some few respects l find
myself more in harmony with the Senate from
Deleware than do with the Senate from Cum
berlsnd or the Senate from Bucks do not
agree with the Senator from Cumberland nor
the Senator fro Bucks, nor do think they are
in entire accord with the Democratic party
when they say that they can see and know Of
no expression OF public sentiment from the
people showing any wish or desire Tor Con
stitutional Convention. The Democratic plat
form was distinct and clear in its tones demand
ing genuine ballot reform, and there Is no man
to-day IN the Commonwealth OF PENNSYLVANIA
who will pretend TO say that real genuine COM
plete ballot reform can be accomplished with
out q change in our present Constitution. In
that respect am in entire accord with the
Senator from DeleWare And go further: Not
only did the Democratic platform express that
sentiment of the party In clear and unmistak-
able tones, but the Republican platform in the
emphatlcally II my recollection, sir. be right,
the Republican platform went a step further
than the Democratic platform. The Republican
platform in express terms promised the people
of Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention.
The campaign Of one thousand eight hundred
and ninety was warmly contested by the com
peting parties and by innumerable orators. In
Guiding the standard bearers Of both political
parties, and had the honor Of listening to them
on several occasions, on both sides; The Re
publican press Of Pennsylvania and the Demo
cratic press of Pennsylvania We'd with each
other IN promising it to the people from the be-
ginning Of the campaign to the end. How earn
est and jealous they were, because IL was sup
posed TO be catching card for votes. They
wed with each other in promising It to the
people, and why did they make that promise?
Because 1t was the party leaders; the party
standard bearers on both sides who said that
was the thing the people wanted. Now, Mr..
Chairman, is there no expression OF sentiment
from the people when party platforms go to that
extent; when the standard bearers of both po-
litical parties travel into almost every borough
and village and hamlet Of the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and promise 1t temphatically, when
the burden Of their speech is, 1--WE want Con-
sttutonal Convention, and we want ii now?''
That was the burden OF the argument, and the
people everywhere said amen 10 1t. IL was the
great question OF the campaign, as all of you
must remember who will reflect for a moment
upon the tone Of the public press and upon the
utterances of the leaders OF the party. No ora
tor attempted to make political speech in the
last campaign without dwelling emphatically
upon this question OF Constitutional Conven-
am I'm favor first, of Constitutional Conven-
ton, to be convened at the earliest possible daY
to carry out the party pledges both parties and
to carry out the promises made by the stand
ard bearers Of both parties during the cam
paign. Next, am in favor Of ballot reform al
this session Of the Legislature, to be made as
complete as it possibly can be, and the change
| that will that will then be required after the
Constitution is changed in that relation as tC
numbering ballots and whiting the name of the
voter upon the ballot, it will be an easy matter
when you once have the machinery adjusted
| that simple question as to secrecy. That car
| readily be adopted and we can use the othel
system until this question OF a Constitutions
| Convention has been acted upon. But first o
| all agree with the Senator from Delaware tha
| the machinery Of the Constitutional Convention
shall be put into active practical operation a
| the earliest possible moment. He talked ex
actly like our Governor did last fall 'whenh'
was making speeches. He talks exactlyas die
| Mr. Delamater and the gentleman who accom-
panied him in his tour on that question. Now
Mr.. Chairman, desire to make suggestion Z
/ the Senator from Delaware There appears L
be no lawyer in Pennsylvania who has an.
| doubt upon this proposition, that the LegiSla
/ ture can call a Constitutional Convention with
| out previous submission to the people, there
| fore why does the Senator from Delaware insis
/ upon having this double voting at the SAINT
| time? For that reason think the amendmen
| offered by the Senator from Cumberland, whicl
is the WherTy bill from the House of Repre-
/ sentatives comes nearer to the real principle
which the Senator from Delaware is advocating
TO get Constitutional Convention at the earlies
| possible moment; and so as not to place it II
| Jeopardy; so as to run no risk or hazard tina
that the act is improper by this double voting a
| the same election why not remedy that defect
And again, otherwise with that defect remedied
| the bill as the Senator from Delaware has nov
amended or proposes to amend 1t Is very nearl
| the same as the bill which Is proposed by thi
amendment, with this exception; on the matte
Of the delegates at large, the Senator iron
Delaware insists that the majority party OF tn
| State shall have eighteen and the minority nine
| Now, l do not think the Senator should insis
upon that. The construction OF the OOnVentlo
&C TO Senatorial districts will give sumcien
partisan majority, and that word eightee
should be changed at least to fourteen; iourtee
and thirteen, and know the Senator VIII agre
that politics and partsanship should net ente
into the discussion Of the Convention, and cal
say this from distinct personal recollectiont tn
Convention Of one thousand eight hundred an
seyenty-three finished It's labors, and do no
think the question OF politics was ever raised o
even suggested In that Convention. / think Tn
Senator from Bucks, who was an hOnored mem
Der of that Convention will bear me out In tina
| statement.
| / do not wish to consume the time Of tn
| Senate, Mr. Chairman. II should not b
necessary. Let us have fair bill. Let us Civ
the people an honest bill, something that "
have promised them, and think they Will b
Satisded