The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-07-24
BALLOT REFORM CONVEN-
TION.

TON.
The ballot reform convention
which met in New Orleans last
Saturday, was composed of repre-
sentatives from seven parishes and
seventeen wards of the city. The
st. Landry delegation being OPP
posed to the suffrage amendment,
did not vote upon the resolutions,
which we're adopted as follows:
This convention recognizes that
the purity, freedom and secrecy of
the ballot and the integrity Of the
count Of the votes lies at the very
foundation Of our Democratic gov.
vernment, favors qualification of
the suffrage, so as to elevate the
character Of the electoral body, and
to climate as far as practicable the
unfit, 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 independence
of the ballot, and absolutely cor,
rect count and return of the votes
as actually cast by legal voters.
We, therefore, as an Organiza-
ton, urge upon our fellow. citizens
of Louisiana, the ratification of the
proposed amendment to Article
1856 of the Constitution. 1t does
not qualify the suffrage in the ex.
act manner we desire, but it is a
big step in the right direction and
opens the door wide for better
things.
We advocate the adoption Of the
Australian ballot law as proposed
by the Ballot Reform League OF
Louisiana, as the best method yet
discovered to secure a secret, I'M
bought and independent ballot,
and we urge the people to elect to
the next Legislature men pledged
to the support of that measure.
We are organized neither to
favor or oppose the nomination
and election of any particular can
,Iidate for any Office. All person.
al ambition should be subordina-
ted to the great end in view; and
the candidates for Governor and
members Of the Legislature should
be the fittest opponents Of the
principles of the League, and ex-
pressly pledged to its measures.
Under existing conditions in
Louisiana, we can to day only hope
for success in carrying our measu,
res through by means of the Dem
ocratic party. The usefulness and
maintenance of that party depends
upon it's adopting our measures
and policy. We therefore urge
that all good citizens to join our
League and extend its numbers
and influence in every parish and
ward precinct. That the League
actively endeavor to elec5 delegates
to TIE next Democratic convention
pledged to the policy and measu-
res III the Ballot Reform League,
leaving the delegates free to vote
for lat citizen OF Louisiana who
is the best leader of the Ballot Re,
form movement, and heartily aud
earnestly in favor Of it's measures.
Resolved. That State Gen.
tral Committee, to he composed OF
one member from each parish aud
ward in the Parish of Orleans, aud
twenty-five members from the
State at large, to be appointed by
the chairman Of this convention ;
to select from its members chair
man, aud formally open a Ballo:
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 we request its con.
tinued efforts in our behalf, and
that all the papers in the State
publish these resolutions.