The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-13

| snable the people to vote intelligently. I
| submit 1t might be bad for some of us. 1t
| might, perhaps. endanger the return of
boine Oi as to the legislature. Under
Republican rule" there is certainly
| successful government from his
standpoint, for Lytle, In recognition of
his unwavering subserviency to the
machine, has since been made by Pres
ident Mckinley Naval officer at the
Port of Philadelphia. He is a smooth,
sleek. plausible fellow, and has about
as much respect for public. opinion as
Fetee Islander
E. A. Coray. of Luzerne, Republi-
can, said the Baker ballot law was a
failure, so far as protecting the voters
was concerned. In his county, he ad-
ded. men were paid to act as helpers,
and stood around the polls until they
had marked 40 or so ballots.
Foster, Democrat, Of Centre, said his
constituency were not in favor of the
law as 1t stands, being satisfied, after
recent contests, that it was defective,
and are ready for any change that will
improve it.
Gould, Republican, of Erie, said: "The
present ballot law is not an aid to
voters, and the machine politicians
have got hold of the blanket ballot to-
day, and can move up their phalanxes
to vote just as they ever did"
Roger Republican, of Philadelphia,
said: "The system proposed by this
bill is in vogue in Massachusetts,, and
is Republican system. Within
my own experience at the election last
November QS96) l observed the most
flagrant violations of the law, and yet
1 had to stand mute"
Here Focht, of Union, one of the
| most blatant and unblushing of the
machine tools in the body. interrupted
| and asked Roger If he did not vote for
Crow, the Citizens candidate for sher-
iff of Philadelphia, the imputation being
that no man who would in the least
degree protest against Republican ma
chine edicts could be honorable and
straightforward.
Roger replied hotly in the affirmative.
snd added that Crow would have been
the regular Republican nominee but
for police interference (under orders
from Boss Martin Cat the convention.
'T stand" continued Roger, "for Re-
publican priciples and not for corrup-
tion or Doodle, and that is why I am
standing here. God only knows
that every reform that has come to the
rural portion of the house."
r. ]. Baldwin, of Delaware, another
of the men who never refuses prompt
and joyful compliance with whatever
may be the orders of the machine,
said that it Is "all buncombe to come
up here and pirate about REFORM"
Mr.. Keator showed that the Baker
law as it stands is not the Australian
system, as 1t Is called, but that his
amendment would make II practically
that. He showed further that the tick
ct provided for in his bill would lessen
the cost of printing from go to rs per
cent-the bill is now an enormous one
that 1t was necessary to insure
secret ballot, that 1t would encourage
honest voting. and that it was in no
sense partisan: but all to no use. Or
ders had been promulgated that the bill
I must not pass, and 1t did not pass.
We can never have free ballot and
! a fair count in Pennsylvania 80 long
as the present Republican organization
makes and administers the laws for
the state and the larger of its cities
The Republican party is the party of
the corporations. 1t Is managed upon
the presumption that the chief purpose
Of law is to enable a few to live hand
somely by bleeding the many. These
few share their gain with the party.
Hence comes the corruption funds. And
with the funds comes the disposition to
make the laws and practices so that
they are assured of the full moneys
worth in the way of votes. But by
electing Mr.. jerks governor and elect
ing a majority of the members of the
legislature-both of which results are
easily possible this year-we can check
mate their game. We can compel the
repeal of the most iniquitous of exist
ing laws and set in motion force that
will be certain ultimately to purify our
politics. make our elections less of a
farce than they have of recent years
come to be, and our state and munich
pal governments to serve the needs and
interests Of the many.