The Opelousas courier., 1895-06-08
Ballot Reform Resolutions.

Ballot Reform Resolutions.
A TOuslng mass meeting was held N
New Orleans on Monday, May 18th, in
the interest OF ballot reform, and the
appended resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
To All Citizens who Favor Honest Elections
and Good Government.
The Ballot Reform League of Louisi.
ana, in general meeting assembled,
issue the following address, supple.
meDtary to that adopted March 81, 1895.
as the platform upon which it will
stand in the coming campaign:
Filst-We shall oppose the proposed
amendment 10 article 1872 of the cODsti-
tuition of the State. under which all pa
rochia! elections throughout the State
will be held on the same day as the
general State election. The tendency
of modern times, i'll the interest of a
clean administration of both State and
local affairs, is to separate municipal
affairs from State politics, and not to
unite them as is here proposed. Our
friends should vote against this amend
ment.
Second-The proposed amendment of
article 1856 OF the constitution of the
State, restricting the suffrage qualifica-
tons, and vesting the next legislature,
cooperating with the Governor, with
the power of constitutional convention,
| upon the subject of the elective fran
chise, is not such as we would have
preferred, but as it promises an I'M
provement ove existing conditions, we
favor its adoption. We therefore, urge
our friends to vote for this amendment.
Third-We shall continue to advo-
cate the adoption Of the Australian sys-
tenn of election, with such modifca-
tons as will adapt the same to the con
ditions existing in this State. The
notifications to be drawn by the
league, and not by politicians, whose
only aim would be to remOve the res
traints which u bill will place against
illegal voting and false counting.
FOurth-We favor the passage of a
registration law, the strict provisions
of which will prevent fraudulent regis
tration.
Fifth-In order to accomplish these
ends, it is essential that the legislature
to be elected be in full sympathy with
our aims and desires. It is, therefore,
our purpose to nominate and endeavor
to elect in every representative and
senatorial district in the State, legisla-
tors who can be depended upon to carry
out these objects.
Sixth-In furtherance Of the above,
we shall subordinate all other issues to
our demand for the qualification of the
suffrage, and we will support that party
only whose platform shall contain an
emphatic and explicit declaration on
these subjects, and which inspires us
with confidence in its determination to
m rrU mt thu Infknn nd ~s~ -~S At.
plank.
Seventh-Our demand for clean cleo
ton methods is, and must be, the first
consideration in this campaign to which
all personal desires, aspirations or pre-
JUDGES, and all party. allegiances must,
for this time, be made subserVient, and
when this league, through this cam
paign committee, indicates the candi-
date Of it's choice, it will expect it's sup
to follow it's lead, and to stand
by it to a man. By SO doing, we can
the enactment of these laws
under which it will be possible to dis
other questions upon which we
may differ, without endangering the
peace or prosperity Of the State.
Eighth-While III our endeavors to
secure the Australian ballot, with a
more perfect registration law, we will
lif6cG our HfSG Efforts 70 the control OF
the legislature, we also require an hon.
sst and economical administration Of
local affairs, and to that end, shall, 10 |
zach parish, and in the city Of New Or
cans, participate in local elections.
And whether our local contests take the
of independent action, or the in
of party nominations, our
will be such as to guarantee
clean and efficient administration of
municipal affairs.
The following resolutions we're also
adopted
Resolved, that the president and ex-
committee of the Ballot Reform
be requested to inaugurate
measures to form ballot reform leagues
n every parish in the State, and that
ach of these leagues, when SO formed,
instructed to send a delegation to a
ballot convention, to be held in
his city onthe 4th day of July of this
ear.
Be it further resolved, that the repre-
entation from each parish be based
pom the vote cast in the Foster-Mc-
merry primary elections, in the cam
align of 1899.