Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-09
FOUR JUR|STS TALK.
Judge Kennedy Favors a
Liberal Construction of
the Baker Law.
COMMON SENSE TO RULE.
Only the official Ballot Is Legal Ac-
cording to the Others.
DEFENSE MADE BY JUDGE MAGEE
Honorable Mr.. Ewing Condemns the New
Voting System as Absurd.
COMMON SENSE TO RULE.
A DEFENSE MADE BY JUDGE MAGEE
HE SEES no REMEDY FOR TEE MUDDLE

This Paker ballot muddle continues to be
the chief subject of discussion among voters
in these exciting times For the present
the campaign hurrahing and the burning of
red fire have been pushed into the back
ground, for what does it accom-
plish, people argue, to waste strength,
beating the air? If citizens will be
unable to vote through no fault of their
own, they want to know it in time. Every
body is hoping for the best, and all agree
that the timely agitation can do no harm.
Ii is apparent that some features of the law
should be changed, and it is well to have
them discussed.
Some of the county judges were inter-
viewed about the voting complications yes
terdav. None of them had any remedy to
suggest. Judge Ewing was one of the
first seen. He had Just finished the job of
making lot of citizens, and was very will
ing to talk. 81 haven't read the Baker
ballot law" he said, "and 1 don't intend
to 60 over it until an compelled to in the
trial of case that may come before me
under the act
A Difficult Law to Learn.
'The law is so complicat d and cumber-
some that L am proud of my record. 1
have been picking up information about 1t
from other people, and between now and
the election / will try to learn
how to vote. The law is absurd. 1 have al
ways said that you can't substitute honesty
and virtue in voters and election boards
through legal machinery. 1 don't blame
the Legislature for passing the act. The
members were working under pressure, and
they tried to meet a popular clamor for re-
form in voting. Now we have the re-
form, and what is it?-a compli-
Gated work that nobody seems to under
stand. The best kind of election law
is the simplest, one that is easily understood
by the masses A few simple safeguards
should be put around the polls, and that is
all that can be done. For the rest we must
depend on the honesty of the voters. You
can't make people virtuous by legislative
enactments. Tricky men will continue to
be full of e1pedients to circumvent the law
in spite of the Legislature. If this
kind of ballot reform keeps up
there won't be enough taxes raised to pay
the expense OF elections Some impractical
people filled with the idea that imaginary
frauds existed and should be rectifed are
responsible for the complication"
But suppose the supply of ballots on
election day is not sufficient, what them"
Indeed, I don't know. If went to the
polls and found none of the official ballots
there would prepare one, and offer it to
the board. !"
Can't Blame the Election BoaraA
'fWhat If it was refused. Would you
indict the board?"
"I don't know what would do. You
can't blame an election board for observing
the requirements of the law. If board
was indicted, this would bring the question
before the courts, but don't believe eny
election officer would be found guilty under
the circumstances named-certainly no
judge would sentence board"
''Would the courts sustain the ballot
mentioned, If the intention is clear?'
81 don't know. That would have to be
decided. L think courts would adhere to
the election law unless it was declared un-
constitutional.
terpretatlons of the law in view of the
facts?''
81 don't see how judges can get
away from the Law. They are guild
ed in their opinions by it. I can
see no remedy, and if voters are disfran-
chised, it is because of a bad election act.
Nothing remains to be done but to make
the best of the Baker law. Governor Pat
tison would not be justified in calling an
extra session of the Legislature. But the
time is too short"