Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-22
Especial Correspondence.)

Acted upon by Regular NepuDh-
cans.
Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg Nov. 20.-Having elected
a majority of stalwart Republicans in
both branches of the legislature, the
regular Republican leaders of Pennsyl-
vania propose to carry out the pledges
made to the people in the recent cam
paign and pass such legislation as shall
be in keeping with the promises made
by the Republican party in the state
convention and by it's leaders on the
stump in the recent canvass.
1t has been the practice of the So
called reformers to lay claim to pret-
ty much all the virtue that is going
around, and their allies, the insurgent
politicians and the Democrats, are al
ways a good second in the race for no
toriety in the same direction. None of
them, however, gets further than the
publication of resolutions or speeches,
in which they arraign the Republican
leadership for alleged delinquencies,
and promise all sorts of things which
they are utterly incapable of carrying
out.
Now the Republican party is in
position to ignore these fake reformers,
will proceed to give the people what
they want in the way of practical legis-
lation to remedy existing evils.
Throughout the last campaign much
ado was made about the question of
ballot reform. Election frauds were
made the subject of TRADES against the
Republican leaders, but the men who
were most conspicuous in this cam
paign always neglected to state that
the alleged violations of the election
laws were almost entirely confined to
the large cities, and that neither party
had an absolutely clear record on this
score.
The discovery of great frauds in one
precinct of the Seventh ward of Phil
adelphia, in which Republican election
officers were involved, made a great
sensation, and it is still the subject of
frequent comment in many quarters.
But little is being said about the dis
closures made in Squire McMullen's
division in Philadelphia, where it is
alleged over one hundred ballots were
stuffed in the box at the last election
in favor of McAleer, the Democratic
candidate for congress, and Lloyd the
1nSurgent candidate for state senator
This revelation was passed over as
insurgent newspapers, which devoted
columns to the case in the Seventh
ward. This time Democrats and flu
sionists were involved
But whether the frauds be commit
ted by Republicans or Democrats the
situation is the same, and it is manifest
that the present ballot law must be
amended, and the Republican leaders
VIII undertake the task of passing
such amendments as will block the
frauds III the slum districts of Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg.
WILL KEEP THIS PROMISE.
The Democrats and insurgents may
attempt to claim credit for what will
be done. but as the regular Republicans
Will frame the measures and pass them
with Republican votes. the people will
know to whom to give credit due.
The platform adopted at the last Re-
publican state convention contained a
plank which read:
The Republican party of Penn
sylvania has always stood for an
honest ballot and a fair count In
the furtherance of this idea, an act
was passed in 1891. known as the
Baker ballot law, for the purpose
OF protecting the citizen in the ex-
tI'ioc VI the efeCt1Ne IfancnlSe.
This act was passed by a Re-
publican legislature at the instance
of the Ballot Reform association.
and was intended to secure a secret
and honest ballot. Further safe
guards were thrown around the
ballot law by the supplemental act
OF 1885. In addition, however, to
these laws, we favor such legisla-
ton as VIII enable the courts to
open the ballot boxes upon the pe-
titioh OF citizens, duly presented
III all cases wherecomplaint is prop
eriy made. alleging fraud In the
holding OF an election or the count
ing or the vote cast so that il
fraudulent ballots are placed In the
boxes or false count has been
made II can be exposed by the
courts with expedition and all of
TENDERS AGAINST the purity of the
or the ballot detected and brought
to speedy Justice"
The subject OF ballot reform will be
among the hrst taken up by the stall
wart Republican leaders.
REFORM oLEO LEGISLATION.
Another matter which will receive
prompt attention from the Republican
leaders will be the proposed amend
ments TO the laws covering the sale
OF oleomargarine. The Republican
party ID committed In the most posi-
tive manner by the speeches made by
Governor Stone aud his subordinates
ia the department Of agriculture To
urge legislation which will remedy de-
feets In the present law on that subject.
The fact is that the law makes Il dim
cult tn suppress the trafiie In oleo col
ofed as butter. al II places but small
punishment upon violators Of the law
and II is deneient Ia other respects.
Despite these facts. Governor Stones
administration has done great work In
the suppression of the "oleo" traffic. It
u known that prior 90 ths inauguration