New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-22
ACTIVITY IN ERIE COUNTY.
EFFICIENT REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION
FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
A NOVEL AND USEFUL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
SUGGEsTIONS AS TO BALLOT LAW
SCHOOLS AND SCRUTINY OF THE
NEW CODE-MANY CHANGES
TMAT SHOULD BE NOTED.


ryncN A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
Buffalo, Aug. 2o.-The Republicans OF Erie County
are giving a worthy example to their fellow Repus-
,,oors I'm the other counties OF the state by their
energy in preparing for the conflict at the polls over
me Presidency, on the sth OF November next Rarely
nos the organization OF the Republican party In the
urty been in such condition OF efficiency 80 early
as II is the present year and the leaders OF the party
in the county have evnced Il readiness to adopt new
methods of bringing out the Republican vote which
hows that they most earnestly oesirons OF roll
ny I'D big majority for Harrison and Reid.
The present week the party leaders gave novel
entertainment. 1t picnic down the river"
which means the Niagara River, upon Grand Island.
10 the members OF the General Republican Committee
az Erie County. There were 100 members OF TINS
executive committee present. All the wards In the
tdg city of Buffalo and all the rural towns OF the
county were represented. Some members OF the ex-
ecuttve committee travelled fifty miles to attend the
gathering A large number OF leading Republicans.
many OF whom, although active In politics had never
met each other before thus were enabled TO become
acquainted with another. The main object OF the
unique conference was TO have the members OF the
committee concert measures in common for Increasing
the Republican vote in the county. 1t was felt tat
sbout every member OF the executive committee could
Offer some suggestion of value In the matter Oh OF
rsuigatson that defects In party methods OF Work
could be learned, and measures adopted to remedy
Them and that the party leaders would work more
In harmony with another If aware Of plans adopted
at conference All these anticipations OF the bene-
fits of such meeting were realized; and, therefore.
those who had brought about the meeting were much
cratifed BY its They feel that the Repub-
Ncan party has been much strengthened In Erie
County BY the conference.
There was one suggestion made at the conference
which should receive the attention OF Republican lead
ers all over the State. Harvey j. Hurd, the chairman
81 the Committee on Organization in the course OF
snccch which ne made the committee, said: In
NV Judgment ought to take steps 10 make the ne
publican voters In the rural parts Of Erie County
better acquainted with the process OF voting under e
Ballot Reform law. Although that law was passed
Two years ago. thousands Of Republican farmers have
not vet voted under II. They have knowledge only
n, the method Of voting under the Old system, where
they procured the ballots from some Republican stand
ing near the polling place were able TO compare their
tablets with others held by him, and then walked
directly into the polling place and deposited their
votes The machinery of the present system Of voting
looks formidable to them. and many, am CONVINCED
feel tmid about attempting TO vote under 1t the first
time.
Both political parties two years ago had oaiio're
form schools in the cities. where voters before elecloh
were guided through the mazes OF entering polling
place announcing a name. receiving official ballots,
going into a ballot booth selecting the party bal0t
folding all the ballots and giving their ballots to the
inspectors But this work neglected In the
country. No one breads rdicule more than farmer,
and a large number Of them believe, have been de-
TERED from voting the last two years by their lear ol
Icing the subject Of alleged jokes because OF some
trivial error while engaged In voting wonuo ans-
Cest therefore that these Ballot Reform Law SCHOOLS
he established In the various school districts In rural
neichbOrhoods and that every Republican farmer We
made perfectly familiar with the manner OF VounS
under the new system. And would suggest that the
new election code. passed BY the Legislature inns
,ot,dp ontc nv do IN
the Ballot Reform law be examined carefully ana 'he
most recent commands OF the law be impaired TO the
voters"
Mr.. TIurd said af4erwnM that. in his opinion one
OF the causes OF the falling of OF the Republican vote
in rural neigboroods the last two years was because
81 the reluctance Of farmers 10 try the new election
system. thus. perhaps. reveal their ignornnee OF
the new method OF voting II this was the explanation
NJ me FILLING of Of the voting. 1t high ume Ballot
Reform INV schools established
The new Election Code, passed by the Legislature
of 1892 is q consolidation in statute OF all pre-
,tmslv enacted election laws. 1t prepared by
Professor Charles A. Collin, Of the Law Department
al Csrnel University; Daniel Msgone OF Ogdensbui''
former Collector OF New York and senator John j.
Inson, Of Kingston, the members Oh the statutory
Revision Commission. II was Thought at the hhe
the Election Code passed that it copied the Ballet
Dero1n act line for line, but al examination OF me
now law shows that many of the sections Of the Ballot
ceform act nave been rewritten, that many have
been transposed to other portions OF Inc code' '''
others stlll have been condensed, that aHei1'lohs
have been made In the commands OF the law and that
in fact 50 many changes have been made that no
election officer voter politician, can depend upon
former copies Of the Law. All former election laws OF
the State Including the Ballot Reform law, are re-
pealed and the Election Code takes their place.
One Of tie more important changes made In the
Ballot Reform law by the code is that relating 70
disabled voters. The disabled voter clause OF
the Ballot Reform Law WAS one OF the most lr"a'ru'
sources Of corruption at the polls The code dehnes
physical disability with greater strictness ana mus
is TO be hoped will lessen the evasion OF the baiN
Reform law The Ballot Reform law declared that
any voter who declares under oath I"
the inspectors Of election that, by reason
NJ pbysca disability he Is unable TO prepare his ballot
without assistance shah be permitted to bring with
him 70 such booth or compartment person OF his
own selection who may retire with such disabled
voter TO the booth or compartment ana Assist MIN
I'm the PREPARATION Of the BALLOT
The Election Code substitutes the following in the
place Of the sentence quyoed
Not more than one person shall occupy one voting
hooth Ht the same time, except That voter VINO
Shall declare under oath 10 the Inspectors VI eecuVh
that bv reason OF total blindness loss OF pom hhnas,
srcn total inability IN rUn " nuSpo~s or physiai
disability BY reason Of crppled condition Or asr"se
to enter the booth alone he Is nnacle .r soTe,
prepare his ballots without assistance may ~, mas,
tr.0n for that purpose, who shall be ao%u " pa
t1,ithin the guard rail and receive suVh oa'io7 wy.
crt"r the voting booth with sucn voter ana tele
.e,st him in preparing his ballot. Inc person 80
.s ,i "hou nnt I'm any manner request, or seek 10
s,sde or induce such voter 10 vote any pnrusuiaf
iailo or for any particular Candidate ana snail i re
.,, ar Indirectly reveal other person inc
name o, any candidate voted f9r BY S,ch otb and
' hau moi remain within the guad-rall longer "nh
u, ~ necnlsarv TO assist such disabled voter
The yanot Reform act aho has been a""'nue" -.
che Election Code IN such manner that tue u"'p 'y
n,ahiog independent nominations has pee" '''".
shortened Under the Ballot REFORM IL" a" ",s,
80 ,he secretary OF state AS late within hf'ee'