The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-24
CHAIRMAN KERR's PLAIN WORDS.

lltlcal situation IN the State said:
"rhe Democratic party as represent
ed in the executive department and in
the legislative branches of the State
government, has been active and anx-
ious during the present session to car
ry out the promises made to the peo-
pie in the platform at Scranton and on
the hustings during the last campaign.
When we declared by resolution and
upon the stump throughout the State
for ballot reform, the Republicans al
SO insisted that they were for ballot
reform. When the Democratic party
proclaimed for Constitutional Con
ventlon 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 agricultural
interests: You shall have equlization of
taxation ! the Republicans, in the face
of the fact that they had violated
pledges already made to the farmers
OF Pennsylvania and notwithstanding
that they had taken extraordinary
measures at the closing hours of the
last preceding legislature to defeat
revenue legislation passed by both
houses, came again boldly to the front
and unblushingly proclaimed them
selves the friends of revenue reform.
The republican senators and lep-
resentatives," continued MIR. Kerr,
pledged as they are under the cons
titution to apportlon the state into
congressional, legislative and judicial
districts at the first session of the
legislature Immediately after the cen
sus, by inaction violate their obliga-
ton of office. The efforts on the part
of the Democratic party, through its
Senators and Representative in this
legislature, to carry out the will of the
people, as expressed at polls in the
late election, seems to be met with
opposition; or, if not direct opposi-
ton, with silence and inaction. Every
measure of the Democratic party for
constitutional, ballot and taxation re
form, every honest measure to fulfil
promises that were honestly made,
every measure tending to relieve the
people as we understand the wants
and necessities of the diversified in
terests of the state of Pennsylvania,
are in the Legislature opposed by the
Republican club welded in the hands
OF the agents of the boss"
"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
control legislation, by means of the
republican majority, has made every
thing subservient to the return of Mr..
Quay, from fishing excursion. Bills
looking to every promised measure
ofreform have been delayed in COM
mittee to await the return Of the boss !;
who, having attempted to white wash
himself from the effects of an indict-
ment which was drawn by the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania and emphasized
by their verdict in the late election,
believing that denial of the charges
made against him places him in po-
sition to again dictate to and control
the legislature of Pennsylvania He
has directed his coterie of sympath-
izers and willing assistants to come to
Harrisburg and, if possible, defeat the
efforts of this legislature looking to
ballot reform; and relying upon SUBJ
terfuge and deceit, they are desirous
of submitting the question of consti-
turional convention to the people at
the next election. The Quay ele-
ment of the Republican party hope to
keep themselves in control by inject
ing into the next election the issue Of
a constitutional convention and deal
ing with the corporations for the de-
feat of tho same at the polls and
thereby. if possible, defeat ballot re-
form and perpetuate the will and the
power of the boss"
81 have no idea that the farmers
and laborers in the mines and work
shops throughout this commonwealth
will allow themselves to be deceived
by such subterfuge. These leaders
anxious to adopt the same measures
which were successfully employed ir
the submission of the prohibition
amendment, hope to win again with
the same methods. In the former
election, they deceived the temperance
people and secured the support of th'
liquor element of the state.
They now hope to deceive th'
farmers, miners and laborers of thu
commonwealth and receive the sup
port of the corporations. Costly a
the election was to the liquor elemen
of Pennsylvania, if these conditions b'
brought about, SO will this scheme b.
made expensive to the corporations.
THE methods employed by MI
Quay and the so-called leaders of th'