New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-22
BiLLOT REFOEN ~ THE SoUTH.

PLANS or THE SOUTHERN RIGHTS LEAGrE-A
TAIN WITH THE rHEslpENr. j.. e. MANNING.
President J. g. Manning. or the Southern Ballot
Rights League. lu company with Congressman
Howard Is sim az the Aston House. To a Tribune
reporter h" said yesterday.
havc read with much interest tne editorial Of
Tn" Tribune on southern Election Reform" and
concur ga th" IDEAS set forth on this able article.
However. th" objects OF the Cooper Union meeting
were simply 10 bring The attention OF the country.
through The press Of Ncw-N ork. 10 the ballot
form movement in the South. Now ind that We
have ALREADY accomplished this. and its accom-
panylnE agitation Is All we ask what We want Is
nor northern Indignation AGAINST tne south hni
Northern cducai!on and sympathy with It's real con
diiion. TINS cannot b" had except through great
pac" before ihe country thu existing political stu
alton without pr"judice or partisan putposs:
10 acquAutng the press with the facts from a
liberal and non partisan standpoint
siderable comment in the south. Tho papers there
that the organs Of the cllQucs that hav.
have denounced every elfori | have made To ael-
tate ana press forward ballot reform. They have
the East abusing the south and for the purpose OF
raising funds indirectly 10 break down the Demo
cratic party etc, In this section. Alabama organs
of the ballot-boX stuing oligarchy hold ms up "a
here Ia destroy the credit of Alabama. When
"countcd-n' administrations in Alabama. Ala,
baina has been on the yrrge OF bankruptcy. ana
10 bc dcfaulters were shielded from prosecution.
an this Ia show how alarming conditions had be-
come and not to Islander the good people OF Ala
hama. who are struggling 10 free themselves from
the domination Of the clique that is hndcring our
progress.
The Southern Ballot Rights League is not max
ing war on the Democratic party. II happens that
the ballot-boX suffers In Alabama and other
Southern states parade as democrats. SO dld
TammanV In Ncw-Iork. But cvildoerS must be-
wiped out. whether they parade as Democrats. Re
publicans PopulIsts. II the Democrats cannot
control the South when honest elections obtain.
the party ought not to want to. Ballot reform can
not be accomplished 10y the aid OF the Bourbons
now I'm power, because they realize II would des-
troy them. Just as the reform movement In New
York has destroyed the corrupt influences here.
! notice clark Howell says he will not cooperate
with the Southern Ballot Rights League. did
not expect he would. 1t takes a Democrat OF
manhood and nerve To stand out against the oil
Rarchies that now rule Georgia. Alabama and Ten
control these state cliques. The Secretary Of
State r. Scott Adams. of Louisiana vce-president
of the Southern Ballot Rights League who was
active in ts organization. Is one OF TIE brainy
and brave men I'm the South. who VIII fight ballot
box stufiing all hazards, although he is Demo
crat. Colonel W y. Parkerson, able as "A lawyer
and orator. and Republican leader in Louisiana. Is
another who Will not falter. l.. f. Parsons.
United States District Attorney. Is "A prominent
the campaign against election corruption Colonel
Thomas Fletcher. OF Arkansas; Frank 5; Coffin. OF
Tennessee and others may be mentioned who Will
not faI to press the fight to victory | realize
that the strength of this movement must come.
however. from the Republicans and Populists. just
as naturally az does the strength OF the American
Protection Tariff League come from the Repub-
The Southern Ballot Rights League as an or
press on the country. We will give the press OF
the East Intelligent understanding of the South
ern situation. In the south our work will consist
OF Investigations. circulating league literature and
holding mass meetings. as The Tribune suggested.
Already have called conferences in different
states IN the south Vi , II, leauers 70 nP
along this line Will be actively pressed.