New-York tribune., 1896-05-09
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
BETWEEN TWO MACHINES.
MR. sHEARMAN THINKS THAT WILL BE THE CASE
OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS IF THE BALLOT


OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS IF THE BALLOT
AMENDMENT BILL IL SIGNED
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir The Ballot Amendment bf now before Gov
ernor Morton. unless 1t changed in the last mo-
ments OF the session. which is improbable. contains
provisions which. II enacted into law. would make
Independent State nominations and Independent mu-
nlcipa parties for the future mpossbility.
The bill requires. a condition of any independent
State nomination. the signatures OF fifty voters in
each county Of the State. certified before some magis-
trate or notary. This looks very plausible on its
face. but in reality 1t requires an imposslblty; and
undoubtedly the trainers of the bill intended that 1t
should do so. The nomination of Everett P. Wheeler
in 1884, which supported by 1900 votes, and
would have received at least twice many but for
mistaken impressions as to the relative strength OF
the two leading candidates. could never have been
made under the proposed law. Mr.. Wheeler did not
receive fifty every county Of the State; and
in counties where he received several hundred votes
It would have been impossible. within the short space
Of time allowed to secure fifty signatures.
1t must be borne In mind that no Independent NOM
ination has ever been made, or Is ever likely 10 be
made. until the two leading parties nave hed their
conventions and the result Of both has been unsatis
factory to Independent voters. All nominations must
be filed at Albany several days before eiectoh' anu
thus practically not so much as twenty days are al
lowed to procure the necessary number OF sigma
lures Within that short period 1t would be utterly
Impossible to fifty signatures in each of the
rural counties Of this State in support OF an inde-
pendent nomination, which Ii Is almost certain wouiu
only be started in the larger cities.
Moreover In OF any supposed conflict OF IN
terest between the larger towns and the rural dis
tricts II might we'll be that an independent nominal
ton made supposed to be made in the interest OF
towns would not obtain even ten signatures In sew
eral strictly rural counties The proposed ballot law
would thus make 1t impossible for the residents OF
towns and cities. who constitute vast majority OF
the population Of this State to start political
movement without the consent OF counties IN WHICH
there were no large towns.
There are other fetters upon independent nomina-
tions contained in this bill; and It's whole plan ana
design s make the electors OF this State the slaves
Of the two principal political machines. giving them
no option except to vote for machine Republican or
n machine Democrat Thus. the reformed ballot.
which was forced upon political managers by the in
dependent vote, has been ingeniously perverted by
those managers into means OF enectNeiy eNtiii-
gushing all independence
Mere party considerations ought not to have
weight in such a matter; but as unfortunately.
these considerations have In fact more weight than
sny others It is well to have Republicans under
stand that I'm the long run this proposed ballot law
will be especially Injurious TO the h,puoicii. par!
safe nominations; while on several occasions there
have been independent Democratic nominations
which contributed materially toward Republican
success in the State The Republican majority IN
1904 MA so large that the 1900 votes diverted 10 the
indenendent Democratic nomination seemed or Httle
acndmnt Rut in nineteen elections out OF twenty
the diversion Of 1900 votes 10 an ndependent noi,
nation would be decisive OF the result III Repuo-
uc, \ legislature and a Republican Governor now
deliberately make Independent nominations imp9s-
shle the large body OF independent Democrats WHO
would be disposed in the future TO reoel hsalnst
party dIctation would have no means OF exptesspne
their dissent except by voting for tne straish. ne
nubcan ticket. which they certainly w0uIu never
5 in view OF the gross treachery or the Repupncdh
narty 10 all its professions In favor OF nanot re-
torni and independent voting. The enactment OF
,bis nronosed ballot law will be worth 5O,WD votes 10
tho reg,ilar Democratic ticket In 1876 ana WIN cei
,atnv secure It's success in this State In 1871 ana
tsoe Although I am n Democrat am not a ma
cratic machine restored 10 full power win az ies
oid corruptons through Republican betrayal OF
p'6mnve wound think that even the short history OF
ballot law reform would have taught sone isso q,
60 no, so The Democratic defeat In tnls state III
1893 on the general State ticket was iarsey ,dn
70 tricks played with the ballot law, by whicn nut
were prohibited from using on their tickets
Tho names OF the nominees OF the regular paI.is
ii,,erw pemocratic nominee required TO prompt
10 ,fso ~ his name other than the resuiat
,icket The result was that those inuepei.su.hn ~
nonoocrats who were willing to vote for part oI tne
Democratic ticket. being left with no 9p.io 81,
none, and cast tneir paio'S io' N
The same folly is being perpetrated oy i'epuo m
,c,n ooicIans in this scheme, ny Wnlcn ~ is ".
beratey intended to leave the e'ec,o, W o nom,
10 choice except between two sets OF fnaclise
no,iors This plot against the freedom OF rJe.SS hSS
e. SIRE 10 be speedily avenged upon the parry WHICH
Is responsible for IT, .
THOMAS G.. SHEAkMA->'