Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-09
Ballot Reform.
Philadelphia Public Ledger

The history OF great reforms, relig-
ous. social or political. show that, ex-
cept in the rarest instances, they were
inaugurated by the select few; most fire.
duently by men who came from the
ranks of those of high thought and con
science. of those whom Matthew Arnold
designated "the saving remnant"
Great reforms have generally worked
down and through the people, and great
reformers have commonly first exerted
their influence upon those below them,
making converts and missionaries Of
them, and they in their turn have carried
the reform further among the masses
until the demands of the majority COM
PEELED its triumph.
With regard to the reform of the bal
lot in the United States it is not less Gu
lious than gratifying that it is indebted
more for the great success it has achieved
nearly one hall Of the whole number
Of states having given it the force OF
law-to the working men than to the
statesmen and publicists. Ballot reform,
if not actually suggested by the repre-
sentatiyes of labor has been so urged and
insisted upon by them as to render its
ultimate and general adoption in all
parts of the country assured
The political leaders have not regarded
he reform of the ballot with especial
favor; it was not expected they would
do so. as it was readily perceived by
them that its accomplishment would
deprive them of much Of the power
which they had been accustomed to both
use and abuse. The Saving remnant
might have continued to knock at the
i IS Isl Ir,napL;pn ha
| adoption OF the Australian, or secret bal.
lot law, till the crack Of doom without
receiving any satisfactory response. but
| it was the great intelligent, resolute
masses of the people who knocked, and
the political leaders were prompt, as is
the servant when the master of the house
knocks, to open the doors of Legislature
| after Legislature to them. to listen to
and concede their demands.
In several Of the states the Australian
law has been improved by the changes
| made in it, and in others it has been
shorn Of some of its most effective pro.
visions In some states the political man.
ayers, not crediting the electorate with
the intelligence to distinguish between
pretence and reality, and thinking to
induce them to accept the former for
| the latter, have so modified the Aus
| tralan measure as to deprive it of its
most valuable parts. That was what
they thought it shrewdly polite to do in
New York and they consequently caused
to be passed by the Legislature of that
state ballot reform bill which stops far
short of the popular requirements. 1t
was dressed up by its fashioners in such
specious shape as to look like the genu-
inc reform which had been asked for,
and, no doubt, its authors. who were
more crafty than wise, believed they
had deceived the masses by the mere
show Of granting their demand Within
less than month Of most important
state election, however, those who
were responsible for the new ballot la "
have discovered that the great masses
Of voters, the working men, know it's
true character As well as they, that they
have detected the insince rity OF it, and
propose to express their condemnation
of deceit praetised upon them at the
polls
The Central Labor Union, the most
powerful trade organization in New
York. 1t being composed Of sixty-fiye
different labor associations mas passed a
resolution endorsing any candidate
| who will pledge himself to work for a
new ballot law embodyipg the Austral-
ian system Of voting They do not care of
what party the candidate Is 50 that he Is
a real ballot reformer In Pennsylvania
che working men have taken as much in
teIest in the subject as have their breth
rem Of other parts Of the country, and
with just as great assurance of ultimate
success.
This reform. which is being pressed
upward by the Intelligent, powerful
masses from below will be accomplished
Pc isical juggling with it cannot defeat,
though it has already in some states de,
lsyed its success WheH the .grest
masses, with such unanimity as they
have shown In this matter, ask for law
for their own protection. they are about
as certain to get it as that the right will
Follow tie day, or that the sun will rise
snd set The determined resolution OF
the New York working men should iu-
duce the politicians who attempted 70
deceive them with regard to ballot
reform to do some serious thinking on
the subject