Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-27

GOVERNOR ; VIEWS.
Robert z. Pattison is 4 man of great in
tellectual and moral power, who in one of
the most intensely Republican states, Penn
sylvania, which gave about $4,000 majority
for Blaine and about the same for Harri-
son, has twice been elected governor on the
Democratic ticket. On the occasion OF his
second election last fall, his first having
been IN 1sS2, his plurality over the Repub-
lican candidate was 1854, result largely
due to his personal popularity and the re-
spect generally felt for his spotless per-
sOnal character What wonder that the
fOresters of the presidential wood should
number him among the available trees for
good White House TIMBER He replies to
the request for his views on the adoption of
the Australian system Of voting in no IN
certain terms.
In reply to your letter 1 would say that
/ think the Australian ballot system the
best agency yet devised for purifying cleo
tons, by bathing the many phases of cor
ruption 10 which fierce political conflicts
have given birth. The lavish use of money
by wealthy candidates, false counting,
fraudulent registration, marked, altered
and suppressed ballots. intimidation of
voters by corporations and other large en-
ployers of labor, and other marked evils
too often attendant upon our elections have
OF late years 50 forced themselves upon
general attention that q great popular
movement for reform has followed as
natural sequence. To this demand for
purer ballot fifteen states have already re-
sponded.
In country like ours, where the people
are their own sovereign, we must make
sure that that sovereign shall be intelligent
and incorruptibe. To secure the former
end we have established our public schools,
while TO secure the latter we have abolished
the viva voce vote and have substituted
for 1t the ballot box. protected by peculiar
laws. But these measures have not been
found sufficient to insure the purity of
elections and to afford to the voter at the
ballot box that sacred protection which is
his Inherent right. Law abiding electors
are confronted at the polls by the corrupt
hlreGngs OF leaders who scorn the law,
who sneer at the decalogue in politics,
and who boldly attempt to thwart the
popular intelligence and to defeat the popu-
lar Will. OF all the foes to our institutions
the political boss is the most insidious,
principles which are the very foundation of
our political fabric-virtue, liberty and in
dependence.
The Australian system of voting would
be an immense power in clipping the wings
and depressing the evils OF political bOssism.
Upward of 5000, 600 of people conduct
their elections in accordance with
Alo PiON AoIO4S' 81 li4dG II - lCLJIti OH
tested experiment nor 4 questionable eXpe-
dent. Wherever free and accurate eX-
preston Of opinion is desired it finds a. home
so tnat it cannot be justly claimed as the
method OF any one country or people.
THE cardinal features of the Australian
system are compulsory secrecy of voting,
uniform official ballots containing the
names of all candidates printed under state
or municipal authority, and official equality
of nominations when made either by u party
convention by Or paper signed by given
number of voters. Under this system all
qualified voters have equal facilities for
voting and all candidates have equal facili-
ties for receiving votes.
''The Australian system has produced eff
feCtS far wider than the mere achievement
of single reform. 1t offers not only free
and pure elections, but free nominations
1t offers a method of nomination that is free
TO all and it emancipates US from the rule
of the political bosses. There is abundant
testimony that it is the best, the most rapid
and the most facile mode Of obtaining the
unbiased wish and mind of voters. 1t Sc
cures tranquility, purity and freedom of
choice. For all these reasons l heartily IA
vor it. Very truly yours.
ROBERT Z. PATTIsoN.'