New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-08
NETWORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER g. Is92-TWELyE PAGES

SecTetary Of the Commonwealth. the voters of
fhe State casting straight Republican ballots
would not have been counted as voting for
members OF Congress- Senators, or members Of
Tie Legislature. When the second ballot was given
out, contairing three coumns-Republican. Demo-
cratic and Prohibition, respectively-I noticed with
some surprise that the nominees of the other parties
which had filed nomination papers were omitted
from the ticket. 1nasmuch as the names Of these
nominees were at the Secretarys hand at the time
'hat the ballot was prepared, it appeared to me
that that was the proper time for him TO deter
mine the question TO how the names of all the
candidates, placed in nomination by nomination
papers were TO be ARRANGED on the ticket | know
that that question was considered by the AttOr-
ney-G General. a~d that he recognized the impor-
tance of deciding whether the names should all ap-
pear in one column or whether each ticket should
have column by itself. If it was not then de-
cded officially by the Attorney y-General, il seems
perfectly clear that it should have been definitely
fixed at that time, SO that the county commission
ers, who had charge of the duty of providing bal
lots, could have taken the necessary steps to per-
form their duty
II am more than ever convinced that that
action by the officials in the Executive Depart
ment was one Of the steps in the conspiracy in
tended TO defraud the majority party in this State
OF the opportunity of voting this year The in
terview between Mr.. Grer and Mr.. Pomeroy
shows that the State officials had been in COM
municaton with Chairman Wright, of the Dem
ocratic party, not merely informing him Of the
action of the department, but confdentially ad-
vising him as 70 the best method Of taking ad-
vantage of this early information. No informa-
tion has reached me in any form from the SeCre-
tary Of the Commonwealth or any of his subor-
dinates relative to the form of the ballot The
knowledge which l have gained that point
have obtained through other agencies, which /
set at work ten Gays ago, because of my sus
picions that l was not TO be treated
with the same friendllness as Mr.. Wright / want
to say further, that thoroughly believe that the
ballot has been stretched out to the extreme length
OF fifty-two inches intentionally and for the pur-
pose of making the ballot of such size will
prevent its being printed in sufficient quantities
for use throughout the entire State. have taken
the pains to consult with some of the leading print
ers in the State and am informed that although
the fty-two-inch ballot cannot possibly be printcl
in time there is no reason Why ballot of
"A, As 46 inches IN length should not be printed
in at least one hunored offices in the Common
wealth. / am also informed by practical printers
that by a very simple plan of removing leads
and diminishing spaces, the ballot can he brought
down TO size which can be printed without
difficulty in quantities sufficiently large TO fur
nish every voter in the State with the means Of
registering his vote | have this day teegraphed
/ to Mr.. Harrity, And also 10 Governor Patti
son, suggesting tins simple and ready solution OF
this grave and critical problem, and although
more than twelve hours have elapsed since the
teegrams were sent, l have up to this time re-
ceiv d no reply whatever either telegram
If the Administration does not desire to null
lily the Republican sentiment in Pennsylvania
they WILL all satisfied, take steps to cOndense the
matter of the ballot and reduce its length what
ever may be the action Of the State officials the
conspiracy will prove failure. The situation was
anticipated and the Republican counties OF TINS
State will be provided with all the needed ballots
for full Republican VOTE and IN strict compliance
with the law 1t only remains to be seen whether
Mr.. Harrity will, by condensing the ballot into
smaller size and the early certication Of nOmina
tions 10 county commissioners, do what lie now
can to convince the people of this State that he
was not a willing party to this high-handed con-
spiracy."
The following is copy of General Reeders tele-
gram:
Philadelphia, Oct. 7, 1892.
Hon. Robert E. Pattlson. Governor, Harrisburg, Penn.
Convinced that danger that many locali-
ties will have difficulty in providing ballots for voters ana
that there simple remedy for this difficulty, have
teeQaphcd the Sec e,ay Of the Common wealth follows
Careful Investigation satles ne that II Is practically
lmpossible ballots printed by November g. unles
the is q reduction the size Of the paper There are
not more than six presses in the State which can
print a ballot fftytwo inches In length There are at
Last 100 such that can print If reduced fOrty.nNo
nches / submit that the ticket can &c Brought
within that lnetn by reducing the top margin
taxing out leads and emitting the unnecessary repetition
Of the words appearing at the head Of each group anu
separate Office in the third and fourth columns \
strenuous effort should be made 10 keep Tie length o.
the ticket within 4G inches since 10 exceed that length
may result dsfranchisng OF hundreds OF thousands
Of voters telegraph you this at this tine 80 that
there may further confusion in the pubic mind by
the issuing Of instructions 10 county COMMISSIONERS or
the sending out Of a la lot Of unnecessary length VIII
,ou nlcase let me know at earliest possible monent,
either by mall what you have decided upon as TO
the form arrangement and size Of the ucketP
FRANK REEDER
Chairman Republican state Committee.