The Opelousas courier., 1895-09-14
jury adjourned till the 4tho n M
october, 1895, at u m. -
ALEX stage, Clerk. a .r-
Ballot Reform Platform andaResolp'
lions. .

oallOC 1eIOIm 1ldIIOIu d4lSs sNASoo1p~
tons NJ +,
She following report of the SsuaSAmittee
on resolutions to the Ballot ResJFa Cons
vention held in New Orleans on Jnly ~
was unanimously adopted: ~
This convention, recognizing that.J*e
purity, freedom and secrecy OF the u
lot and the integrity of the count OF IL.
vote lie at the very foundation OF ouf
Democratic government, favors aquall-
f~icatiOn of the suffrage, so as to elevate
the character of the electoral body, and
to eliminate as far as practicable the uti-
fit, the ignorant and the vicious, and at
the same time to SO amend our election
laws, methods and practices as to secure
the freedom. purity. secrecy and indie
pendence of the ballot, a@Sv5an abs"-
lutely correct count and Return OF the
votes as actually cast by legal voters.
We, therefore, as an organization,
ana the ratification of the proposed
amendment to Article 1876 of the Consti-
tuition. 1t does not qualify the suffrage
in the exact manner we desire. but 1t IS
a big step in the right direction and
opens the door wide for better things.
We advocate the adoption Of the Aus
tralian ballot law, as proposed by the
Ballot Reform League OF Louisiana, as
the best method yet discovered to Sc
cure a secret, uDbought and independ-
ent ballot, and we urge the people to
| elect to the next legislature mel pledg-
ed to the support of that measure.
We are organized neither to favor of
oppose the nomination and election or
any particular candidate for any office.
All personal ambitions should be subor-
dinated to the great end in view; and
the candidates for governor and mem
bers of the legislature should be the fit
test opponents of the principles Of the
League, and expressly pledged to it's
measures.
Under existing conditions in Louisi-
ana, we a to-day only hope for sue
cess in carrying our measures through
by means of the Democratic party.
We believe that the supremacy and
integrity of the Democratic party iii
Louisiana depends upon the advocacy
of these measures. We therefore urge
that all good citizens join III league
and extend its numbers and influence
in every parish and ward and precinct.
That the league actively eDdeavor to
elect delegates to the next Democratic
convention, pledged to the policy aud
measures of the Ballot Reform League,
ISds luS liz uOiOSotSC AtCS ~ Soto W
that citizen of Louisiana who is the best
leader of the ballot reform movement
and heartily and earnestly in favor of
it's measures.
Resolved, That a State Central Com
mittee, to be composed Of one member
from each parish and ward in the parish
Of Orleans, and twenty-five meolbers
from the State at large, be appointed
by the chairman of this convention,
which committee shall meet at a time
and place to be named by the chairman
of this convention, to select from its
members a chairman, and formally open
a Ballot Reform campaign.
Resolved, That our hearty thanks are
due to the press of the State for the able
and earnest and hearty support it has
given in the past, and that WI request
its continued efforts in our behalf, and
that all the papers in the State publish
these resolutions.