Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-20

Il
| II was introduced into the Dominion o
Cansds- Does anyone for moment CLAIM
that the same condition Of things exist Il
Maine that existed ia CansdAs Until il cal
be shown shst there are the ssme condition
existing 10 Maire that exist in these state
where is had become necessity, / say tn,
necessity Of its adoption does not arise
/ For the last few weeks, in the discussion o
this matter, The cry OF bribery aud intimi
dshoas has rot been heard; but it has beer
claimed that the people want it. The peo
pie claim there is necessity for il, and ye
ols 5000 petitioners out Of the whole 1876.
ot0 voters have pefitioued for il. Is thx
evidence OF inlmidAsioa2 Il that Al indi
cation that there is q call for ii from
tae people OF the State? l do nc
believe for = moment the senator's vii
claim tha: Il follows. They have failed tc
shaw thss there was any necessity for IL in
the State Of MAins. They have failed Il
show tbs. there is bribery or intimidation
failed to show that there have been AM
contested elections; and let me say here
that there 10 hardly ever q contested elec'
tion in Maine; and in these states TODAY
where the Australian ballot bill 10 in force
there are very many contested election
cases. and in the Dominion of Cansds
more than 40 per cent of the Eests II
Parliament will be contested on account OF
fraud; ard the next morning after the
election in the Dominion Of Csnais the
papers were teeming with cries OF "fraui
AMI Intimidation at the polls" and vet
the Dominion of Canada has 10 day virtually
the Australian SYSTEM Of voting. TIE facts
show that In these states where the Aus,ra-
Ian ballot is In vogue, there is as much
intimidation aud bribery as they claim any
where elss, snd they have failed 10 sho
aay example Of any state where the Ansrs-
Ian system is in vogus and has remsdied
TO the least extent any of the evils which
they claim exist; | say it 10 but fair they
should chow il; and say they should have
proof of the necessity Ard that it will &C
compiish what is claimed will be accom-
plished before We should be called upon to
adopt it.
The only thing that has been made Ger,
tain in regard to this matter is this Parties
hars visited Massachusetts,, AMI the
only thing that ia made certain is that there
is quietness srd order about the polls. Tha,
is The Only thing that hss been ma ,e Ger.
tain in this whole discussion. That was the
only thing that WAS made csrtain before the
committee. Cannot that be accomplished
by a more simple method thsn BY this pro.
posed measured. Rail off your pclling
il you see fl and keep every man 20 or &C
feet from the polls. Furnish an official
bSilot, IL you see fi. and an efticiSl en-
ye,ope. and If a man is afraid and does moi
care to walk up 20 the ballot box and de.
potit his vote, give him an oppor-
sanity to vote in secret and
alona, but 90 rot say to me OF
any other man tba, YOU thall dc
in secret Whist you are proud to DO openly.
II man wishes to walk up to the polls aud
openly exercise his right of citizenship, he
should have right 10 do it, but he should
not be compelled to go in secret and alone,
il he does not wish to do it, and perform an
act which he ia proud 20 do in public.
say that what has been proven to be the
results of this system in Massachusetts, can
be accomplished by measures that are 10,
80 radical, so complicated or 80 expensive
rs the measure under confederation. The
advocates of this measure have no definite
ideas in regard to the matter and l think
that the condition OF things, as they exist
today, warrant me in making the s'ste-
n. the very first OF the session, and was
that ii had there been tried and found to be
r success. /. was ssit to be perfect in
every respect. IL was considered here by
the 0umttee on the judiciary, which
reported different measure, aud it was
consitlesed in the House. IL came up to
the Scnate, and another measure was intro
dnced and is lying upon the table today.
uuierssni 1t is the intention of the
friends of the bill, 10 substitute the bill
that il lying on the table for this bill. ]
say they have not shown consistency in the
mstter--no settled ideas or opinions in
regard to IL. and they DO MOI know
what bill is for the interests
of the people or what should
be adopted BY this Legislature.
They are unsettled 10 regard to it, ard un.
ill they have some deanite ides in regard
TO it, until they can bring in "a bill that can
be re eported from the committee back &c
the House which they can agree upon, We
should not be asked to supportit.
ass thi. Senate to accept the minority
report in place of ihe ms otily report, snd
not to forcs This measure, which 10 so dis
tasteful TO very msny OF tue Republicans
of the State, upon the State at this time
but GLOW the matter 10 ga over to the nexl
Legislature. Let the matter be considered
By tie psnple of the State at large, LEI
thim inttoiuce il into the mex
State, county sGd clsss conventions
and let their repfese natives come
with some ideas in regard TO the opinion oj
the people of the State ye gsri!ing it. Leay.
Aiitics out OF the matter entirely refer
this back to the people and let them instruc
their representatives st toe next session Of
The Legislature what ara their ideas regard
iag the mater. | ask You to aGceps The
minority report because there hss beer
nothing hsre shown that the bill under
consideration ia q necessity, or tbsi, if it be
that the bill will remedy the evils cisimet
existing at thi8 time, aud | ask il because
il hss not been shown tha, the people o
the State want IT; the people thems Ives
ase divided upon it. | believe the mex
LIE egislasrre will be better qualified to 81.
rp1n the ms,ter than this one ha
been. believe they will come here in
structsd so that they can repre- sent the peo
pie Of the whole State. DO not force il
upon the Republican party, who DO no
want is, or upon the eastern section Of III,
State, 3 g1s jor!sY of which il opposed t,
this measure. 1t is in the interest of hsr
mony and in the interests Of friends Of tbs
measure. For taese reasons ssk You tt
substitute the minority report for the ma
i3Fity report Of the committee.
Mr.. Powers OF Aroossook-Mr. Pres
ident Unlike my ftierd. the senator from
penobscor, d. nos rise for the purpo,,
3 I
report Of this committee. feel that tn.
act, 20 far as sm concerned, carries viii
is its oSn defense, and an not afraid t,
leave TO the future the Justification OF m,
c1nduct in .hst particular. / rise Simply
for the purpose Of submitting few re
marks, why, ID my judgment. the motiol
| OF the senator from Psnobscot should no
prevail. Nov | agree with the senator ihs
| this Ia an important measure, undoubtedly
| to n1y mind the most important which Ia
come before this Senate al this session
and, sir, do not, for my par
undefstau1 sow am to shif
my responsibility for my action upon AZ,
| other bsdy of the STATE of Maine, whAtsTe
! may have been the course Of sDy namba
/ Of men ia the Hoase of Representatives. 0
/ IN any other place. fad ihis question
/ meeting me here. AMI do not shrink fron
| accepting tbs responsibility which rest
upon me ss Senator Of This State; to m,
own conscience ani 10 my constituents vh,
sent me here am sloas responsible 70
| my cegdact, aud at that osr sm not sfsai
to answer. / do rot for moment qusstio
the motives of the gentlemen who oppos
this measure. fsiiy aud freely accord +
every man the right to act upon an impo-
tanl public MEASURE Ike this q
| hs judgment and his cor scienc
/ q ossses. and that aame freelor