The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-06-01

Ballot Reform ResolutiOn3.


Ballot Reform Res0lutiOnS.
A rousing mass meeting was bald in
F, New Orleans on Monday, May 18th in
the interest OF ballot reform, and the sp-
pended resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
To ALI Citizens who Favor Hoasss YisctioHs and
Good Government.
The Ballot Reform League Of Lodisi-
| ana, in general meeting assembled is
sued the following address, supplemen-
tary to that adopted March n, 1885, %
the platform upon which it will stand In
the coming campaign:
Fint-We shall oppose the proposed
amendment TO article 1872 Of the c0usti-
tutiou OF the State, under which all pa
rochial elections throughout the State
will be held on the same day a., the
general State election. The tendency Of
modern times, in the interest Of . clean
administration OF both State and local
affairs, IL to separate municipal Affairs
from State politics, and not to unite them
as il here proposed. Our friends shUuld
vote against this amendment.
Second-The proposed amendment Of
article 185 OF the constitution Of. the
State, restricting the suffrage quak6ca-
tions, and vesting the next legislaturs,
cooperating with the Governor. With the
power of constitutional conventions upon
the subject Of the elective franchise, is
not such as we woaldlhave preferred, but
as it promises an improvement over ex-
listing conditions, we favor its sdoption.
We, therefore, urge our friends TO vote
for this amendment.
Third-We shall continue to advocate
the adoption of the Australian system OF
election, with such notifications a. will
adapt the same to the conditions existing
in this State. The notifications 10 be
drawn by the league, and not by politi-
clans, whose only aim would be to re-
move the restraints which our bill will
place against illegal voting and false
counting.
Fourth-Ws favor the passage Of Q
registration law, the strict provisious of
which will prevent fraudulent rsgistra-
ton.
Ffth-In order to accomplish these
ends, It is essentisi that the lsaislature
to be elected be in full sympathy with
our aims and desirea- It il, therefore,
our purpose to nominate and endeavcr
TO elect in every representative and 6eu
storial district in the State, Legislators
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 en-
phatio and explicit declaration on these
subjects, and which inspires US With con-
fidence in its determination to carry cot
the letter and spirit of this plank.
Sevsnth-Our demand for clean cleo
ton methods il, and must be, the first.
consideration in this campaign 70 which
all personal desires, aspirations or pre-
judices, and all party allegiances must,
tor this time. be made snbservient, and
when this league, through this cam paign
committee, indicates the candidate Of
its choice. it will expect its supporter
to follow its lead, and TO stand BY ito
. man. By 90 doing, We can command
tho enactment of these laws under which
it will be possible to discuss other ques-
lions upon which We may differ, without
endangering the peace or prosperity Of
the State.
Eighth-While in our endesvors to
secure the Australian ballot, with moro
perfect registration law, We will direct
our first efforts 10 the control of the
legislature, We also require an honest
and economical administration Of local
affairs, and to that end, shall, in each
parish, and in the city Of New Orleans,
participate in local elections. And
whether our local contests take the form
OF independent action, or the indorse-
mont OF party nominations. our candi-
dates will be such a. to guarantee clean
and efficient administration of muni-
eipal affairs.
The following resolutions were also
offered and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, that the president and sx-
ecutivs committee of the Ballot Reform
League be requested to inagurats meas
ures to form ballot reform leagues IN
every parish in the State, and that each
of these leagues, when 30 formed, be in
structed to send . delegation to q gener-
al ballot convention, to be held in this
city on tho 4th day of July of this year.
Be it further resolved, that the repre-
sentatiou from each parish be based upon
the vote cast in the Foster Mel Emery
primary election, in the campaign OF