Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-21

Harrisburg, March 19.-Ballot reform
has been one of the most interesting
matters under discussion here this last
week. 1t is probable that within
few days this issue will come to head
and the Republican leaders will deter
mine upon the character of the bill to
be supported as the Republican meas
ure.
1t is manifest that combination has
been made between the Finn insur-
gents and the Guffey Democrats to ad-
vocate the abolition not only of the
party column, but the circle also,
through which the members OF any
particular party can by single cross
mark indicate a desire to vote for all
the nominees of that particular party.
The insurgents and the Democrats
have common purpose to defeat the
nominees of the Republican party, and
they have argued that the best way to
do this is to endeavor to make 1t aa
difficult as possible for the Republican
party leaders to poll the full strength
of the Republican vote in Pennsylva-
mia.
Finn, who sees that his control OF
the party machinery in Allegheny
county will shortly be taken from
him. has apparently no longer any con-
Germ for the Republican party's nomi-
nees. He feels that his future lies In
combinations with the Democracy on
fusion deals.
DEMOCRATS WORKING A GAME.
The Democrats are naturally for any
thing that will be to the disadvantage
of the Republican organization. and
they have taken up the idea OF abolish
ing the party column and the party cir
Gle
A conference was held here last
week, at which Col. Guffey, the Dem
ocratic national committeeman from
Pennsylvania met members OF the
Democratic state executive committee,
and they went over the whole situation
from the standpoint of practical poll
ticians. They were working solely for
the advancement of the interests of the
Democracy
They agreed upon bill which is to
be known as the Guffey bill and which
groups all the candidates for any office
under one heading and at the same
time does away with the circle at the
top of the column.
The bill does not differ in other re-
spects materially from the other ballot
reform bills which have been intro
duced. They are all drafted upon the
idea Of making the ballot secret and
the count correct.
FOCHT BILL IS POPULAR.
Republicans are getting to under
stand the provisions of the bill intro
duced in the senate by Senator Focht,
of Union county, which is based upon
the Australian system, and which
adopts all the features of that ballot
that can properly be employed in Penn
sylvania.
Under this bill the names of all the
candidates are grouped together under
the title of the Office for which the said
candidates have been nominated, and
his party appellation follows the name
of each candidate. The bill will not
permit any mans name appearing more
than once upon the ballot.
This plan reduces the size OF the bal
lot. puts all names in one column and
would save many thousands of dollars
in the matter of the expense of print
ing.
The Focht bill recognizes the right
of the members of any party entitled
to column under the present law to
at least have an opportunity of indicat-
ing with one mark the desire to vote
for the full ticket of such party.
This feature, many Republicans say,
must he included in the provisions Of
any bill that shall be supported by the
members of the Republican organiza-
tion.
The argument is made that q very
large percentage of the voters support
the straight ticket, whether 1t be of
the Republican. Democratic or Prohibi-
ton or some other we'll organized par
ty. They should not be put to
the inconvenience and annoyance
of having to mark each candi-
date for whom they desire to vote
In some cases they would have to make
as many as dozen or more marks.
While this plan would be to the advan-
tage of the independents, who would be
interested probably in but one or two
OF these candidates, the regular party
man who wished to vote for all the
candidates Of his party would be put
u unnecessary trouble IN making
many marks on the ballot. In the en-
barrassments thus following many vot-
ers. through mistake. would overlook
marking some OF the candidates, and
thus they would unwittingly be aiding
their opponents.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE GUFFEY's
SCHEME.
II has been discovered that some of
the Democrats who believe In party
organization are vigorously opposed to
the Flinn-Guffey idea of forming a new
ballot law. Among these Democrats Is
p. Gray Meek. of Centre county. one Of
the best known men In the party. He
was the Democratic candidate for audi
tor general last fall. and was formerly
chairman of the Democratic state CON-
mittee.
Ex-senator Meek. q member Of the
state Democratic executive committee,
strongly condemns the proposed ballot
lazy. lie so informed Col. Guifey and
the members OF the committee before
the executive session began. Division
Chairman w. J. Bremen, OF Pittsburg.