The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-02

when the law in question was under dis
cussion to predict that such would be the
result, and events have justified my posi-
tion. Even the movers of the measure
declined my suggestion that they show
their sincerity by making it a mpu!sory
holiday; for they well knew that the labor
ing man did not desire or need to lose his
days pay in order to vote, and SO content
ed themselves with a great flourish OF
trumpets statute ostensibly for his bene-
f9, which they thoroughly understood
would really inure only to theproht OF
the capitalist
Every voter should have an opportunity
without unnecessary inconvenience to
himself to cast his ballot, and in order to
insure this with the hours of voting
shortened as proposed by this bill, 1t
would be necessary TO make election days,
or portion of each of them compulsory
holidays, in the same manner that the
Sabbath is compelled to be observed, for
as we have seen, a permissive law has not
yet had the slightest effect in this direc-
tion. Labor is employed not alone in
manufactures, but as well in stores, res
taurants, hotels, conveyances and else.
where aud wherever employed is entitled
to equal consideration in this matter. To
enforce idleness upon 1t, unless absolutely
necessary, in my opinion, is not for the
interest of the State, neither do / think
that public sentiment to-day would APP
prove of the stoppage of all labor on the
many days devoted to elections i'm the
course of twelve months, in the manner in
which it is stopped on the Sabbath, and
experience has shown that nothing short
of this will be effective.
"If this bill were to be enacted it would
be necessary also to largely increase the
number Of voting places, thereby, in the
proportion OF such increase adding to the
already large expense of conducting cleo
tions i am in favor of affording the
amplest accommodation in this particular,
but no increase SO far as l know. is de-
manded at this time unless this bill passes.
Voting is duty and not a privilege.
and the State would encourage rather
than hinder the performance of that duty,
for in the general participation, by all en-
titled SO to do, in the affairs of the State
and Municipalities lies the safety of our
institutions. The record of the Republi-
can party has always been in the line of
encouraging such participation, aud that
record Will not now be departed from.
This law would affect more particularly
the laboring men. For them the Repub-
lican party has passed unanimously in
a General Assembly, containing only a
handful Of Democrats, the ten
hour law. 1t first submitted to
the people by Legislature in
which there were but sixteen Demo
Gratis, the Bourne amendment giving the
suffrage to foreign-born citizens, and the
Republican Senate of the next General
Assembly was the first TO vote for its
final submission, and il received its strong
est support in the Republican towns and
cities. The weekly payment bill, after
passing DEMOCRATIC House, was con-
CURED in by Republican Senate: the
same is true of the law by which the polls
in the city of Providence are now kept
open until O'Clock, and this General As
sembly, Republican in both branches, can
not nan isfn taf W unfa fnr 10 an
with the added legislation referred to.
"His EXcellency the Governor has seen
fit to recommend for Legislative consider
alton the passage of general law embody-
ing the ideas of this bill and coupled with
the provision for legal holidays and addi-
tional polling places for the reasons which
he has so ably stated, evidently feeling
that making election day legal holiday
would in its convenience to the working
man much more than compensate for
shortening the hours of voting from z TO
B O'Clock. Two years experience, how
ever, with permissive law of this sort
shows plainly that neither employer nor
employed wish to observe il. aud that
only a compulsory holiday would be eff
fectual, which latter / am OF the opinion
the people do not desire"
Mr.. Baker of Providence opposed the in
definite postponement, for the reason that
he believed there was merit in the bill,
and that Gov. Ladd had rightly suggested
that in some way the hours OF voting
should be shortened.
Mr. Heffernan OF Woonsocket, repre-
senting the Democrats said that Mr..
Baker represented the real and Mr.. Will
son the forced sentiment of their party,
and that were it not for fear Of public
condemnation the Republican party would
not have withdrawn the bill. He claimed
that everything looking TO an extension Of
suffrage had been brought about by the
Democrats, and that the Republicans
through fear, as now, had been forced to
give the several beneficial, widening, up
lifting measures, support.
Mr.. Wilson responded briefly but with
cutting sarcasm, and suggested that II
the gentleman from Woonsocket would
but look at the records he would find that
he had been badly misinformedSnnd thaO
the Republican majority in the Legisla.
ture and among the electors had secured
an extension of suffrage at times when
they could have checked the cause. Now,
So then. he believed the Republicans would
vote from the heart and conscience.
Mr. Baker gave notice that at some fu-
ture time, the voting hours being satisfac-
tory TO the people of Newport, Pawtucket
and Woonsocket, he should offer bill for
an amendment Of the election laws 90 the
effect that I'm Providence the polls should
not be opened before q a. m.
The motion TO indefinitely postpone the
bill was then unanimously carried.
a message was received from the Senate
in the form Of resolution OF adjourn
ment out Of respect 10 the memory Of the
late ex-lieut. Gov. Oscar j. Rathbun, On
motion of Mr.. Brown OF Woonsocket the
House concurred with the Senate, and at
1870 adjourned until II o'clock tomorrow
morninU