The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-04-17
Ballet Reform.

II * evident that tie Republican, Leg
islature IN this State viii attempt to de
feat the popular demand for ballot re-
form by trickery of some kind. Hon.
James Kerr Chairman Of the Democrat
ic State Committee in an interview at
Philadelphia on Friday last, said:
''The Democratic party, as represented
in the Executive department and in the
Legislative branches of the State govern
ment, has been active and anxious dur
ing the present session to carry out the
promises made TO the people in the
platform at Scranton and on the hust
ings during the last campaign. When
we declared by resolution and upon the
stump throughout the State for ballot
reform. the Republicans also insisted
they were for ballot reform.
when the Democratic party pro-
claimed for Constitutional Convention
TO enforce ballot reform the leaders Of
the Republican party in the late canvass
sought to impress the people of this
State by flaming posters and loud talk
that they also favored Constitutional
Convention The Democratic party
said to the agricultural interests: .'You
shall have equalization of taxation;' the
Republicans, in face of the fact that
they had violated pledges already made
10 the farmers of Pennsylvania, and not
withstanding that they had taken extra
ordinary measures at the closing hours
of the last preceding Legislature to de-
feat revenue Legislation passed by both
Houses, came again boldly to the front
and unblushingly proclaimed themselves
. the friends of revenue reform.
The Republican Senators and Repre-
sentatives," concluded Mr.. Kerr, 'pled-
ged as they are under the constitution
to apportion the State into CongresSion-
al, Legislative and Judicial districts AT
the first session of the Legislature inn
mediately after the census, by inaction
I violate their obligation of office"
Three months have come and gone
and the Legislature is looking forward
/ to an early adjournment. The small
coterie that is attempting to boss and
I control legislation by means of the Rep
I ublican majority has made everything
subservient to the return of Mr.. Quay
from a fishing excursion. Bills looking
to every promised measure of reform
! have been delayed in committee 10 wait
, the return of the boss. He has directed
his coterie of sympathizers and willing
assistants to come TO Harrisburg, and,
if possible, defeat the efforts of this Leg
, islature looking TO ballot reform; and,
! relying upon subterfuge and deceit, they
are desirous of submitting the question
of a Constitutional Convention TO the
people at the next election.
Il have no idea that the farmers and
! laborers in the mines and work shops
I throughout this Commonwealth will al
( low themselves To be deceived by such a
subterfuge' -
"The business interests of this Com
monwealth, second to no other. are safe
, in the hands of the Democratic party.
Believing that the people have become
weary of Quayism and Quay methods,
which seem TO control the Republican
party in the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives OF Pennsylvania, l do not
hesitate to speak as l do. If they hope
to deceive the people again, and perpet-
uate power and place for themselves in
the future, they will be badly disap-
pointed AT the next election"
1T is generally conceded, " concluded
Chairman Kerr, that there is quite a
respectable number of Republican MEM
bers of the present Legislature of such
character and independence as to make
them restless and restive under Quay
direction and dictation and probably to
assert their manhood in support of Just
measures, but il is likewise believed that
the Quay denomination is SO strong as
TO be able to control its action