The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-18
IN AND0UT OF NEW YORK.
ITEMS PICKED UP BY OUR SPECIAL
CORRESPONDENCE
STATE And NATIONAL ELECTIONS
Causes ONE Discussion Among Politicians.
Compulsory Laws in New York-A Drove
of Locusts Invade a Train, Etc.

once. danger threatens the proposition "
separate local from state and national cleo
lions. Although the seventeen members OF
the committee on cities OF the constitutional
convention are in favor of the plan, some
delegates from rural districts are making
serious objections.
They argue that what will be of direct
benefit to cities will be of direct detriment
to counties where there are no cities. The
rural electors, they contend, will not be
sufficiently interested i'll county elections
to go to the polls for such contests alone
The issues of state or Il national cam
paign have to be depended upon to rouse
the rural vote
1t will be necessary for the city men IN
the convention to pay attention TO thls
objection and to do SO at once.
There many politicians whc do not
wish local contests to be separated from
state and federal contests. Their opportu-
nifty for making combinations and tradmS
votes would thus be taken away from the1h'
These men may not join orenly with the
delegates who from honest convictions pro-
test against the divorce, but they Will hnai-
~ vote with them Meanwhile these poll
ticians will do all they can to foment tfoup!e
and impede the settlement of the proplem
against their selfish interests.
1t is expected that much VIII be done TO-
morrow upon the general city question.
Matthew Hale, chairman of the City Ciub
conference committee of tWenty-one, sald
that the work viii be entirely preliminary,
but important The Hale committee Will
meet the committee on cities during the
week and present some of the principles
urged for Introduction into the proposed
constitution. 1t is not likely that the Hale
committee viii waste much time upon the
phraseology of these principles The pre-
else wording of the ideas will have to be
selected by the convention committee itself
MIR HaIe's committee is composed of men
.;ts fc fi,o
vention committee on cities. 1t is pity
that on each body there is not al least one
representative man from the rural dis
tricts. II there We're the protest of the
country against independent local elections
could be better set forth and better studied
and better met.
10 separate local from state and national
elections means. first, the holding of local
elections in the odd-numbered years; sec
ond. a change in the term of the governor,
So that it shall be two four years, and,
third. the making of an assemblyman's
term two years instead of one year.
There VIII be opponents of each of these
changes, and each such opponent becomes
thereby an opponent of the policy of sep
arating local from state elections
IN the certainty of this peril arising it
becomes evident that the Hale and the
Johnson committee Will have TO consider
other than merely city interests and city
affairs. 1t IS compound, not simple
problem.
Advocates Of separation of elections
must do some missionary work. To satisfy
the 'ufaI delegates and their constituents
there VIII have to be 4 delicate adjustment
and perhaps z compromise. The sooner city
1uen who desire reform see this the larger
VIII Toe their chance of getting for cities
what cities need.
More Russian Methods.
have compulsory education and compulsory
vaccination, and now it is proposed to add
70 these Russian expressions compulsory
suffrage. The proposition to enslaVe citi-
ZeHs who have the privilege of suffrage and
do not exercise il finds favor in the consti-
tuttpuaI convention. 1t is argued by its adj
VocaJcs that the exercise of suffrage IS as
much duty the payment of real taxes,
and voters should be cited t. appear before
thC supreme court of the state and show
cause Why they should not be penalty dealt
with when they fail TO come to the polls aAd
deposit their ballots. The necessary Sc
ouenee OF Sucn d law is gross violation of
personal rights. Officials must not only act
q detectives. but visit domiciies to discover
the reason Why delinquents should not be
made parties to a state prosecution. The
registration offices and polling places must
be converted into detective resorts. Citi-
zens absent from the state must have a
that they might exercise suffrage, or if
sick. a doctors certificate Of inability would
be necessary. Such are some of the alb
surdities attending compulsory suffrage.
When such an amendment to the state con-
stitution is laid before the people it viii be
overwhelmingly repudiated for it strikes
at the very root Of personal Vohtion, which
is personal liberty. Freemen viii not con
sent to be driven TO the polls, as the white
missionaries drove the people Of Otahe.t e
TO church ON Sundays. The compulsory ed
ucation law viii work its own repeal, be-
cause it authorizes domiciliary visits Of
officials, the compulsory vaccination law is
assuring it's own repeal for the same rea-
son. that force in free country, save to
prevent felony. Is at war with the princi-
pies upon which government is based in
this state. where the spirit of opposition to
tyranny has been transmitted from the
CIiutons NorriSes ana LiVinsstOns to this
generation without essential impairment.
That the ballot is the cure for political
evils Is granted. All men should use it if
they have the chance to do So An educa-
tie1al ballot qualification is not compul-
sion. 1t is proposed in tie convention to
prohibit any man from voting who does not
understand the Eug.ish language after a
pear specifically named, and also to natives
who can neither read write. Other
states Of the union have such legislative
enartneats Guarding suffrage from limo
walton and outrage IS not an element of
force. It should he strictly protected. But
when it is proposed TO arraign citizen be-
fore a court because ne does not choose to
vote the very genius of Amercanism is in
suited. Suffrage is not a right, but a privi-
Iece, which can be taken away on conVic-
ton Of felony. or modified at will by the
people. II is gross ignorance to call ii a
right, for a right is a sacred possession.
Being privilege, then it is surprisingly
ridiculous to hear it spoken of as being d
basis of state nquisitiOn and prosecution.
LOcuSss Board n Train.
I1com:ng passengers report that swarm
of seyeaueen-year l0custs took possession
Of a Long Iranch train this morning, and
for a time there was every prospect of the
Passengers having to abandon the train and
leave it to the locUstS.
The train which experienced this unusual
trouble was No 9S7, of the Pennsylvania.
railroad. 1t left Jersey City at 10 o'clock.
the warm weather tempted hundreds to
the coast towns and the train was heavily
laden. Everything went well until near
here.
The station is in a wood. The vicinity
has been a favorite stamping ground for
the pests since they began to make Their
appearance above ground this year. The
ground is honey-cOmbed where they have
forced their way through, and driving over
the roads is dangerous the earth is apt
TO sink beneath the weight of horse.
The ocusts have attacked the trees and