Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-02
Especial Correspondence.)


may be one of the important state is
sues in the coming campaign. There
is reason to believe, however, that this
may be eliminated from the partisan
contest, If the leaders of the different
elements continue to express senti-
ments in accord with those uttered
within the last few days. Col Quay, in
a recent public declaration, went on
record in favor of the most sweeping
reforms in the matter of secret ballot
and an absolutely fair return of the
votes cast, and he also advocated per-
sonal registration of voters He gave
it as his opinion that these reforms
could only be had within reasonable
time by the calling of non-partisan
convention, which would amend the
present constitution so as to permit the
requisite legislation to be passed before
the adjournment Of the next legisla-
ture. It would be necessary for the
legislature which convenes in January
next to pass an act providing for the
immediate calling of a constitutional
convention. Such convention being
held without delay would permit of the
introduction of such bills in the gen.
eral assembly as would be required to
of the constitution.
GOVERNOR BLACKS ATTITUDE.
1t was, therefore, noteworthy that
last week former Lieutenant Governor
Chauncey F. Black, one of the most
respected and distinguished members
of the Democratic party in this state,
came out boldly in favor of the holding
of convention to revise the constitu-
tion in order to reform the voting sys-
tenn of the commonwealth.
In carefully prepared statement for
publication he gave the objections to
following the antiquated method of
leaving this problem Of ballot reform
to be solved by the state legislature un-
der the existing constitution. He re-
ferred to the fact that John Wana-.
maker, in at least two of his public
speeches, advocated this convention
idea as the only plan by which ballot
reform could be obtained, and he re-
ferred at some length to the failures
Of the past, declaring that the ballot
law now in force in this state is
fraud, and then recounted the abuses
that have grown up under the present
system.
Governor Black then pointed to dec
larations from John Wanamaker in
November. 1899, and again in March,
1900, on the subject of ballot reform
and quoted him as having said on the
last occasion mentioned:
81, therefore, address myself to the
people Of Pennsylvania, to all qualified
electors without distinction Of party,
whose lives, liberties and property lie
today at the mercy Of irresponsible po-
litical machines and their powerful
secret and corrupt allies, and ask them
to unite in the nomination and election
of candidates for the legislature
pledged to vote for fair, non-partisan
act calling a constitutional convention
for immediate ballot reform, the sub
stance and essential provisions OF
which shall be embodied In the funda-
mental law beyond the reach of corpor-
ate or machine power"
QUOTES COLONEL QUAY.
Continuing, Governor Black said:
And now comes Mr.. Quay, the ac-
eepted chief of the regular Republican
party not only with candid admission
of the scandalous state of affairs and
the universal demand for change, but
with a carefully devised and specific
program for constitutional conven-
tion as the only means of certain and
immediate relief He declares that the
legislature. under the present consti-
tuition, has no power to pass a personal
registration law for the cities or to pro-
vide secret ballot, while any voter
may take another into the booth to at
test his ticket; that the pending
amendments are not madatory; that
even If, after a long and expensive
process, they are adopted and incorpor-
ated in the constitution. they do not, of
themselves, effect a reform, but leave
the whole matter dependent upon the
will Of future legislatures which, as all
our experience shows, are little likely
to abate abuses that inure to the profit
OF powerful corporate or private inter-
ests.
Thus we have the intellectual and
responsible chiefs of the two divisions
of the Republican party" remarked
Governor Black, after quoting Col.
Quay at length, "in unison upon this
most important of all public questions
in our state. Mr.. Quay, after due con-
sideration, magnanimously and une-
Quivocally accepts Mr.. Wanamaker's
proposition for an immediate and radi-
cal reform by the only means available.
He not only accepts it, but he pledges
himself and, as far as he can, his party
to fair, non-partisan constitutional
convention bill like that of 1872. Here
we have the perfect model. the
Buckalew bill. under which as
sembled convention embody-
ing the very highest wisdom and
purest public morality Of the common
wealth, and in which not a partisan
word was uttered from beginning to
end.
CITY MACHINES REBUKED.
What right has any one to doubt
Mr.. Quays sincerity? He is the un-
questioned head Of the ruling party In
this state. He cannot afford to palter
with the people, and, In this case 1t
would be an act of rank and gratuitous
folly. The Democrats OF the nation
have tested the value Of Mr.. Ouay's
word on more than one critical occa-