The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-04-03
BALLOT PROBLEM
NEATLY SOLVED.
Republicans Agree to Accept Guf-
fey Bill, With Two
Amendments.
WILL INSIST ON PARTY CIRCLE.
pendent Voter and the Australian
system of Grouping Candidates Is
Very Closely Followed.
Especial CorreapondenceO

Especial Correspondencel
Harrisburg. April 2.-What must be
conceded to be a very clever move on
the part Of the leaders of the Republi-
can organization of the state was made
last week, when, after a conference at
the governors mansion, II was agreed
to accept the Democratic ballot reform
bill, with a few slight changes, and to
push it through the legislature with
out further delay.
During the last campaign Col. Quay
on several occasions declared that the
Republican party leaders were ready to
meet every reasonable demand for
changes in the present system of vot-
ing, and that they would be ready to
confer with leaders of the Democracy
or others who have been agitating the
question of ballot reform, and be pre-
pared to support any measure which
would seem to satisfy the people.
QUAY WAS LIBERAL.
The bill drafted by the Democratic
leaders who met in this city recently,
and which is known as the "Guffey'
bill, being named after the Democratic
leader of the state Democracy, was
sent to Col. Quay and he quickly gave
it his approval as far as its general
provisions were concerned. and it was
then taken up by other Republican
leaders, who got together here last
week. But two sections of the bill were
amended and these changes simply
covered the matter of providing a circle
through which a member of one of the
regular parties can by placing one
mark within that circle vote the en-
tire ticket Of his party. The other
amendment referred TO the matter Of
permitting voters to ask for assistance
in the marking of their ballots when
they are unable to do that themselves.
SENATOR PENROSE'S VIEWS.
Senator Benjamin X. Focht, who is
chairman of the senate committee on
elections, reported out from his COM
mittee the Guffey bill with the two
amendments referred to and the bill
was then sent to be printed
United States Senator Penrose. in
commenting upon this issue, said:
AT conference at the governors
mansion it was decided to submit the
Guffey ballotlaw after rmakingnecessary
typographical and grammatical correc-
tions, adding thereto the party circle,
as a measure of ballot reform which
will be supported by the stalwart men,
bers of the legislature. This bill as
remodeled will become a law. We fully
appreciate the fact that Col. Guffey
and his insurgent associates will not
accept it because of the party circle.
This, however, will not interfere with
its speedy enactment. |, in common
with the other Republicans interested
in the fulfllment of the party's ballot
reform pledges, believe that it is es-
sential that the new law shall con-
tain the party circle and the provision
that a voter should be given the right
when necessary to have an assistant
to help him mark his ballot in ac-
cordance with his desires. It would
not be fair to inconvenience nine
tenths Of the voters-and by this
refer to the voters Of all parties VINO
vote their straight party ticket for the
purpose Of accommodating the other
tenth that desires to vote a mixed
ticket and refuses to recognize the OBJ
legation Of party primaries"
THE AUSTRALIAN GROUPING.
THE amended Guffey bill is about
as near perfect as it can be made" said
Senator FCcht, "and now that every
element will find incorporated in the
bill the features contended for | look
for 1t to pass with little or no oppo-
sition. Every opportunity for fusion
is given, only in somewhat different
way. We have really given this ele-
ment more than their often local and
ephemeral existence deserves. for all
parties, however created or constitu-
ted, get a party circle. The ballot wifi
be one-third the size of the present
one, and the Australian grouping sys-
TEN Is one of the features. The privi-
lege to assist voters is retained. This
cannot be denied the many disabled
electors throughout the commonwealth
simply because in some remote in
stances there are a few abuses. The
circle will never go, because it stands
for partisanship. We give the nom
partisan voter his opportunity in the
groups below. but the circle remains
to accommodate that vast majority of
voters who believe in parties, party
platform and in principles. and not
merely men"
OPPOSED TO POLITICAL PIRATES.
Il fully agree with Senator p. Gray
Meek, the Democratic leader, that this
is a government by parties. and every