The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-25
The EARLYCL0SING BILL
What Gov. Ladd Would Recommend
for Legislative Consideration.
MORE POLLING PLACES NEEDED
And whole or Half Holiday, or Two
Hours-His Sole Object To Facilitate
Voting and to Secure Earlier Returns
--Belief That Alarm is Unnecessary.

A week has elapsed since His Excellency
Senate, and by vote of the latter it was
communicated to the House of Represen-
tatives, and in that brief time perfect
furore has been created by those who be-
lieve that the early closing of the polls
recommendation contained in the mes
sage was aimed at the disfranchisement of
the workingmen.
The friends of the Governor believe that
he has been misunderstood and misrep-
resented. and from one them VINO Is In
touch with His EXcellency the following
is given that the public may clearly under
stand the motives which prompted the
suggestion of closing the polls at an hour
earlier than now observed by law:
Gov Ladd in his message TO the Cen
eral Assembly furnished number OF
small politicians with subject for dis
cussioi which they either cannot or will
not understand. If they would take what
the Governor really said and plainly
mea, they would have appreciated his
leadership, for the Governor simply advo-
Gated the closing of the polls at an earlier
hour, as measure in the line OF progress
and advancement. He has carefully studied
" hat is done in other States and has
given the result of his researches for the
benefit of all tho people of Rhode Island.
There are any people who do not de-
sire 20 follow the lead o. the other States,
because they think that Rhode Island
must neeas be original in everything. But
the Governor earnestly believes that what
other States can do for the better ad
vancement of the people Rhode Island can
follow and adopt with equal advantage.
"The Governor made careful inquiry IL
the manufacturing districts of Massachu-
sets and around the suburbs of Boston,
where SO many people live who have TO go
into the city To work and return home at
late honr to vote, and was convinced
thereby that there the early closing law
was having good results.
"He would impress upon the minds of
all that there are Republican as well as
| Democratic workingmen, and he consid-
ers THAI regardless of party lines all will
yet admit the great advantages of the
measure he has recommended.
"The cry of disfranchisement of the
| workingmen was, the Governor believes,
not started by any friend of the working
men. That cry may serve purpose, he
| thinks, temporarily, but he says that ii
| will react upon those who have set il up.
He asserts that he wishes simply to close
| the polls a few hours earlier than at
present, and that this may be done with
| fairness and Justice to all he would recon-
| mend as many additional voting places,
| and that they be as conveniently situated
! for the masses, III every city and town
az the need may be set forth by the people,
| to the end that the vote may be promptly
deposited and expeditiously counted and
declared. What good many people have
| omitted to comment on is that particular
| feature of the measure.
Instead of DISTINGUISHING any voter the
| Governor would do as is done in other
| States where the same law that is de-
l.. fu ,l..fa la
would give the voter every possible chance
| TO get to the polls by the passage of such
| conditions in the bill as would make cleo
tion day, either in part or wholly, a
| holiday.
He would also if it was thought neces-
sary, as in Boston, include a clause that
| would close the saloons on election days.
| Some have suggested to him that the
| hours of labor on election day should
begin at A. NJ; others have suggested
two hours at noon for voting purposes,
| and some have suggested shutting down
| work at 3 or O'clock in the afternoon.
| The Governor suggests that in the interest
| of progress and reform that these details
] be worked out in the preparation and dis
| cussion of the bill, so that everybody in
| terested, whether a wage worker or an
employe, be consulted.
"The Governor laughs at the idea OF
there being any politics in his recommen
datlon, excepting that III ls generally
| good policy for all the people. He ask
what those who are opposing the bill are
| doing for the workingmen to-day under
| the general law. IL is inconvenient for
! the workingman to vote in the morning
| before he goes TO work. At the noon hour
| he finds the time too limited and he is
therefore forced TO put off voting until af
! ter o'clock. What then! Tired and
! hungry, and before he can go to his home
he must hasten To the polling place, after
hnding that there is large crowd and a
! long line ahead of n m made up of men
who have been waiting all day to get a
! consideration for their vote and who AT
the las nour have swarmed into the vot-
| ing places and are endeavoring to cast
| the vote they have been trying in vain all
| day to dispose o. Seven o'c.ock comes,
the polls are closed and the honest work
ing man is shut ut.
Let the Il nth come out and the work
/ ing men will readily see that Gov Ladd is
attempting something that will mal'e il
| possible for all TO exercise the right OF
! franchise wiLhout restrictions except those
| imposed by the constitution When this
| Is all understood the only persons who
will continue To be exercised about the
laboring mems vote will be those who de-
sire 10 cCltinue ting disfranchisement
| possible under the existing law"