The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-04
POLITICAL GOSSIP.

The Philadelphia Press points out for
Mr.. Olmsted's benefit the fact that citi-
zens of Philadelphia have been electing
school directors since 1854 on the prin-
ciple of limited voting, in entire ienoE-
ance that the rights of voters were being
trodden upon. The constitution" IL
adds. nowhere forbids the legislature
TO apply the principle of the limited vote
to elections, while in one notable instance
the constitution makes the principle OBJ
ligatory In framing the magistrates law
for Philadelphia in 1875 the Legislature fol-
lowed the example set by the constitu-
tional convention and imposed the same
restriction on voters in the election Of
magis ira ties as the constitution imposes
in the election of Supreme judges and the
new Superior court act imposes in the
election of the judges of the new appel
late court The magistrates act has i,"tn
passed by the supreme court more than
once, but the validity of the limited vote
requirement has not been questioned. The
most notable instance of the apph 'a;ion
of the principle of the limited vote in this
state is found in the a.; of April II. 1872,
which provides for the election of dele
gates to the convention which framed for
the state its present constitution. II the
principle of the limited vote is wrong. as
Mr. Olmsted contends, then the constitu-
tional convention which sat in 1873 was
elected improperly and the binding char
acter of the instrument which 1t framed
is not therefore beyond challenge. If the
Supreme cour, is Illegal because elected
by limited vote irtended to give minor
ity representation, then the constitutional
convention Of 1873 was an Illegal body be-
cause of the limited vote which gave the
Democratic party larger representation
in it than 1t could otherwise have secured:
If the limited vote was good under the old
constitution. which says nothing about
1t. it is certainly good urder the new con-
sttution, which was framed by con-
vention elected under the operation Of
that very principle and which expressly
4 n II,
dietary article"
A sensible opinion Is pronounced by the
Philadelphia Times when, apropos OF Mr..
Olmsted's contention concerning the con-
sttutionality of the Superior court act.
it says: "The argument is plausible, but
1t would be very unsafe to accept 1t. AS
election officers are sworn to execute the
laws and do not sit to determine constitu-
tional questions, they would certainly re-
ject all ballots on which a citizen had
voted for seven Superior judges. BY the
law they are required to return but six
rior judges. and 1t would be their mani
fest duty to reject all ballots on which
seven had been voted for The citizens of
Pennsylvania who desire their ballots to
be counted and returned would do well not
to bother about refinements of congtitu-
aiorul construction. The law provides
that they shall vote for only six of the
seven judges to be elected: the election Of
which the election Of judges Is held. and
the election board that counted and re-
turned seven votes from any one citizen
for judge would be assuming the power
of the supreme court. The election boards
will obey the law, and 1t Is certainly ex
pedient. and most likely lawful as well.
that voters should do the same. Without
stopping to bubble about constitutional
should vote for six Superior Judges, and
thus make sure that their ballots will be
counted and returned"
The Wilkes-Barre Record Is not alto
pether certain whether Cameron can be
defea.ci for reelection or not. "He has"
it says, 80 often triurnphed over we
hearted opposition so often succeeded In
securing what he wanted by strategy and
other useful weapons OF clever campaign-
ing that unless there is something done
besides newspaper talk he will eurelv TO
peat his victories of the past. The thing
to do Is to make an issIle of the natter
at all senatorial and legislative elections.
Let ne vote for candidates who are willing
to pledge themselves o,nosed to Cameron
and refuse to vote for those who will not
so D1edge thesmelves. This is the surest
and best way of getting rid OF him"
There appears TO he no truth in the ro-
port ~ reconciliation between Faseett
and PIatt. The E'mira Advertiser, Mr.
Fassett's paDer denies that there hevt
been any overtures toward a reconcilin-
ton. ard says. 'Jf the balance were
e1r,Ick. " would no eoun1 ~
man had received uuite as many favo~a
from the younger 10 tho younPfr NAV had
from the older. and there Is this differ
ence. that tho yourger man rnvar wont
into the o'der's cou-try and t~'ed to hu-
initiate and defeat him. nor did he ever
mislead or deceive bin
II II II
The WASHINGTON Post thinks t-",' NJ"
Reed ought not to have any trouble In
mailing nm his committees Out Of the
2i6 Republican members of tho neyt house
only ninetv-eight have Sawed one term
or more. and over ore-half OF these have
only been IN the house one term As
there a"e aftv-ei~ht chairmarehi-s to he
dispceed &C. Mr. Reed can place tho o'dc- |
members In good nosi'iors. fix few of |
thu more prominent OF the Sone- -termers. |
p1d then the new members can he |
bunShed upor committees which happen |
to sne handy. :, ;, ;,
II II II
The recent report that the friends NJ |
Senator QUAY wore defeated in the |
Schuvlkill county Republican convention |
which elected national delegates Ia pro-
rounced untrue by the Pottsville Miners |
Journal. Tho Quay or anti-Ouay Issue, |
n appears. did not figure In the conven- |
tion.