Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-12

MS chances ICY NoD4xeS " AAs
vote. hope every man who has any
Independence of Sand or pluck viii vote TO
keep this bill where it oaghs - be--lown.
lspplarss].
Mr. Kergsn Of Van Buren--I voice the
unanimous sentiment Of my commitments
VIXEN say thss = lsv similar to the Aus
italian ballot bill Il impsratively demanded
by the people Of this State. and that thes
expect Us. their trusted representatives.. to
les is,Ate to that effect That there ID cor
rupsion and Intimidation and fraud and
bribery. has been proved BY the orators
Who discussed this question the o.hes day.
These are terrible evils and mus BE- cap
pressed.
Mr.. Snow Of Bressr-I hold in my
hand letter. the only ooe which l have
received from Brewer ssking me {, sup
port this measure, informing me that unless
| support it they sill send somebody hare
uho will. TIE city Of Brewer is opposed
to this bill and IL was opposed TO the regis
trAtion bill. When the gentleman from
Biddeford declared that the Democratic
party want the purity of the ballot Was
assounded, because thought that they had
suddenly become converted, but Femem-
oered that it 10 the same old disloyal party
that disfranchissd 10 and sold out cur
bnthYight In my travels 10 the service
Of my country have seen some of the
methods Of this party. Soon after the
war l was in Charleston and there saw
desds that would make any man
ashamed. I WAS in Florida, invited
by citizens Of thAs State to purchase some
OF their beautiful lands. When l asked
them if = man could come there and vote
IS he saw ff, they ssii mo; not while the
Democratic party has the feins in their
hands" / found . BiddefoIa JournS! On
my desk stating that in that city 25 names
had been added to the voting lists Of partiss
who had not been naturslizsd. expected
the member from Biddeford TO arise and
make some explanation, but not word did
we hear. just 90 long - this spirit exits
thar will be bribery and intimidation.
Mr. Noble of Lewiston-I am very sorry
on motion of this character that the
cebate has already passed into an Intensely
partisan nature. Lss. Friday the motion
to substitute the minority report for that OF
the majority failed upon tie vote. From
every obsideralion of parliamentary fair
ness towsrds your committee it 10 the duty
of the House to accept the majority report.
You have denied the minority the rignt TO
present report and in no spirit Of fairness
can you deny your committee the right to
make any report.
Mr.. Gldden Of Newcastle-I DO not
claim to know practically anything about
the bill, but large portion Of cur know
Ledge is gained by hesrssy. What snow
about the workings Of the Australian ballot
bill and the protection it affords to the
purity Of the ballot box il gained from
hexrssy. I have lesrled ihst in those
places where it has been used it works well
and is to a large extent gafegu4rd against
bribery and CORRUPTION. We have been
told Tbs. this law was conceived away
down ia South Sea leland among people
very low and degraded, for the protection
of their ballot, and that it answered the
purpose. 1t 10 claimed that we are 50 free
from bribery and corruption in the State Of
Maine that we don'S need such law.
Everybody knows what the old law is. As
has been said, there is penalty for bribery,
but bow often do you hear of prosecutions
under il?
Mr.. Giidden read an extract from Tues
days Lewiston journal stating that the coz
rupiion witnessed in the late election al
Bangor had made scores Of friends for the
eecre, ballot system. and that Gen. Mitchell,
who testified here tina. he did not believe
thu Austrslisn ball,t bill was needed, I'D.
mits there was much money used and many
nen bough: and that some remedy must be
found, il i. does not already exist in ouI
laws
Gentlemen Tell us that the old law has been
on our atute books for 70 years, but we
have taken many strides since the time OF
our forsfs.hers, and the motto is still
coward" There has been considerable
said here about the petitions of the labor.
Ing men, gentlemen having gone so far ss
to say that the signers of these petitions
were men of low origin. Who are the
laborersf They are the bone and sinew OF
| the couotry, of the Stste, Of the world
Shall we despiss them because they are
lsborsrs? tell you, DO. IL we do, we
shall regret II. Now, gentlemen, if you do
not pass the bill at this session, you hsva
crly to wait a little while and it is coming
| again, and when it comes sgsil, depend
upon it, it comes to stay. Appliance.
| 1t has been charged that the passage Of thu
bill will disrupt the Republican psrty.
Well, nov. if it be possible that that nobls
! and glorious party that has accomplished
| such wonders in this country in the last
| 80 Years has become 60 corrupt that a pure
| ballot. that protection of the ballot box
| shall disrupt it. then cay let disruption
come l DO not say with the gentleman
from Portland that IL that be the case lie,
| Us kill this bill here and then kill the Re.
pbbiiean party" No, gentlemen, If thai
be the case. which deny, than lei us psss
| this bill all The more q1ickiy, and lie! u:
| disrupt the party that has become 50 c9r-
rupt that it is no longer A. t, live, and Their
let US go home and hope ard pray that a
party may arise from its ruins that ehall
prize purity of the ballot, that shall rze
! patriotism above damsgopism and count.y
above party. Applause
Mir. Trussei of 81. Georce--The people
from where | come are strongly in
| ia or OF the Australian ballot bill. Thu
petitions which I have RECESSED fron, the IN
have been signed not alone BY Democrats
but by prominent Republicans as vel. !
| refer % oue name only whom all gentle.
men admire for his ability and his integri
| ty, Hon Charles F.. Lttlefald. You will
say doubtless 20, Knox county is n Dem
ocfaiic county. The Democrats simply
want it." Blu. believe the Republicans
want ii and I hold in my hand copy Of a
resolution that was introduced and passed
at the last Republican county convention
Mr. Trussel read resolution endorsing
the efforts being made in Congress for q
general election law and declaring
| in favor of the Australian
! system Of voting. A. few days
| sgo upon the flor Of this House gen,ls.
man ssid in subs 'ance that il the Australian
ballot bill was passed the Republican party
| in the good old coua'ies Of Cumberland and
York ~oull be irretrievably Lost aud would
| sink banea h the wave of oblivion. Do you
believe that the grand old party That had
Abraham Lincoln at its head, That did SC
much TO extingnish the cause of slavery
| from our beloved country, that has given
US such good temperance laws and has now
at the head Of the State one of the best and
ahIest Of Governors, is going to sink into
| oblivion il the Australian ballot bill il
passed in this House? I say no aud ihink
tyou all ssy no. | am proud of the scss OF
the Republican party although I am q
Democrat. But IL we hsve become 60 low
and corrupt and the Australian Dsllo, bill
will purify and cleanse Il and make i,
nobler. then should We no. by all mea1s
pass the bill? Ard if this bill will cleanse
the s, called poisonous Democracy of the
State of Msine, should We not pass it7
The desire Of the greater portion Of the in
hsbitants If this State, l believe, is that thi.
bill should pass. To this Legislssufe one
| of the largest petitions has been presented
that has ever been presented to the Lseis-
latnre OF Maine, Of more than 5000 sisnat-
ures. Shall We not give the people what
they will and what they wishf | believe
his measure 10 for the hes. iotersst of III a