Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-06
BOROUGH OF M'KEE'S ROCKS
Will Beat the Northside in the Race
for Fame After All.
NOT as LONG NOTICE REQUIRED.
Specimen Eallots and Papers Sent BY the
State Authorities.
4 HOT FIGHT On A PECULIAR ISSUE

Allegheny voters VIII be able TO get IN
struction in the intricacies Of the Baker
ballot law from the big borough that is to
be organized at McKee's Rocks. In case
the programme now outlined is carried out
without jar or accident, Australia's plan of
holding an election will be given test on
or about April l. The Allegheny Mayor
ality election will not be held until April
26
The effort to establish borough at Nc
Kee's Rocks was started once a year ago.
The first attempt was unsuccessful on ac-
count of the opposition of g certain class OF
people who profit by the Sunday picnics
that have made the town of Mckee's Rocks
famous That opposition has been removed,
however, and when the application comes
before tie grand jury a week from next
Monday, the solicitor, Attorney Frank
Thompson, thinks there will be no oppo-
sition. In that case il is intended to give
the ten DAYS notice required By the Baker
law in township and borough elections
This would allow an election to be held in
the last week of March, but it is hardly
probable it will take place until the first
week in April
Politics in an Unsettled State.
At present the political situation in Nc
KEGS Rocks is in as unsettled a condition
as the National Democracy. There are al
most as many candidates as there are voters
in the town, and each is doing as much
hustlins as man running for Congress.
The people who believe that Sunday picnics
should be relegated to the past are repre-
sented by half dozen candidates for each
Office, and their less religious brethren on
the picnic side are equally we'll represented.
Republican and Democratic lines are not
vet drawn, but there is lots of time to do
political work and no one dreams that it
will not be done. On the result hinges not
only the happiness of Pittsburg's sport low
ing people, but also the reputation of Nc
KEGS Rocks.
If one class of officials are elected, the
beautiful picnic ground on the Ohio, with
its convenient places for selling beer and
making life as free and easy as in Chicago,
will continue to be kept open on Sunday.
There will be as much freedom in the town
as formerly, with only show of police reg
ulations on occasional sign boards to indi-
cate that civilization extends beyond Pitts
burg city line.
A Change Quite Probable.
On the other hand, if the opposite people |
win, Mckee's Rocks will become as orderly |
as the town of the Economics 1t is prom |
ised that Sunday picnics will be ruled out |
and that whenever an attempt is made to |
hold them force of police will be on hand |
to grab each visitor as he steps from the |
wharf and the picnic grounds |
The ticket will be nominated |
on the platform that new lookup should |
be built with iron bars and a capacity |
that will take in a boat load of Pittsburg |
sports. The lookup is now in the rear of |
the 'Squire's Office, and on account of one |
OF the windows being broken is not consid-
cred safe unless the prisoner is too much
intoxicated to move.
1t has not vet been decided whether both
parties will hold primaries, or whether the
election will be practically decided by hav-
ing one primary for both parties. In that
case there will not be much confusion on
account of the Baker ballot law, but if the
parties go into contest at the polls no one
can imagine what the result will be. The
population in the town is estimated to be
5000, and with the votes that 90 with that
many people attempting to cast ballots at |
one polling place under the new system,
there will be no escape from confusion
and little hope that all the votes will be
poled After this spring the town can be
divided into precincts, but for the first cleo
tion that cannot be done. The officers to
be elected are Burgess, six Courcilmen, six i
School Directors, Constable and Auditors.
AFun Vote Expected.
A full vote is expected if tine contest goes
to the polls, and even if it is decided at the
primaries previous to that time, it is thought
that curiosity will bring out the majority of
those entitled TO 4 vote. The citizens of
the town feel proud of the fact that they
will be the first to test the Australian sys-
TEN in Pennsylvania, and it is generally be-
lieved that there will be as many politicians
present to watch the result as at party con-
vention.
The secretary OF the Commonwealth has
sent to the County Commissioners copies of
forms of blanks made necessary by the
Baker act There are eight forms of blanks,
as follows: Certificate of nomination, nomi-
nation paper, official ballot, specimen Off
cial ballot printed on tinted paper, letter
to County Commissioners and sheriffs
certifying nominations, letter of
transmittal to sheriffs, watchers
certificate. The official ballot is a cumber-
some sheet covering about 15x24 inches of
good white paper. A four-inch strip at the
bottom is perforated so that it can be torn
of. The ballot sent out is for the first eIec-
ton district Of the First ward, Philadelphia.
The only officials to be voted for are Presi-
dental electors, Congress at Large, Judge
OF Supreme Court, Congress, Senate, Repre-
senta:iyes, District Attorney, Clerk of
Quarter Sessions and Coroner The candi-
Gates of each party are arranged in parallel
columns with the name of the party at the
head. The last column is left vacant for
names OF Independent candidates to be in
serted.
The Explicit Directions Given,
At the top of the ballot the directions |
state that a cross opposite the name of the
party indicates a vote for all the candidates
Of the party. In case a voter intends to cut
his ticket, cross must be made after each |
name The ticket can he understood by
men with a university education after bay-
n- been studied the greater part of day,
but to men of only ordinary intelligence it
is as difficult of comprehension as the mys-
erious writing at q spiritual meeting. its
;ize effectually buries the vest pocket, and s
is result makes things that much easier
or the campaigner.
The specimen ballot is the same as the :
me intended for use, except that it does not Z
,ave slip to detach, and is marked "Speci-
men Ballot" 1t is printed on tinted
,aper, and is intended for distribu-
ion in order to educate the voter.
The certificate of nomination looks
ike a life insurance policy, with the ex- ]
eption that there are no questions asked.
t states in a note that "when nominations
re made for members of the House of
representatives of the United States and !
or all State Offices, including those of
Judges, Senators and Representatives, this
ertifcate is to be filed with the Secretary |