The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-02-20
ELKIN PREDICTS
BALLOT REFORM
Republican Members of the Legis-
lature Will Fulfill Party
Pledges,
FIGHTING THE 0LBO TRUST.
More Drastic Measure Introduced
I'm the state senate ut the Instance
tion.
(special Corrcspondencel

Harrisburg, Feb, l9-"Every prom
Use of the Republican state convention
and the Republican administration in
regard to ballot reform will be faith
fully carried out" was the positive dec
laration made today by Attorney Gem
eral John p. Elllin, who is regarded as
one of the most influential Republican
state leaders. THE matter OF ballot
reform has been given careful consider
alton by the party leaders" he contin-
ued, "and the regular Republicans can
be relied upon to advocate and pass
such measures as will meet every re-
quirement Of the situation and fulfill
the expectations of the people Bills
are now in course of preparation which
ii is believed will be satisfactory TO
those who regard change in the bal
lot laws as necessary to insure a secret
ballot, a correct count Of every vote
cast and true and proper return of
the ballots as cast"
Attorney General Elkin is believed TO
speak by the card wnen he predicts
that the demands for ballot reform will
be fully met
The elections committee Of the sem
ate, of which Benjamin X Focht, Of
Union, is chairman, has had several in
formal discussions Of the subject Of
ballot reform. and the measures in
course Of development will, it is de-
clared, put into effect every reform
desired.
After the revelations of the ring
methods OF the Finn machine Of Pitts
burg. as shown in the discussion Of the
reform charter bill in the state senate,
people are likely to look with suspicion
upon the so-called reform bills of Sem
ator Finn, which the insurgents have
been advertising and playing up at a
great rate Finn, in the role OF re-
former, with the real reformers OF his
home county branding him as an arro-
giant boss, will not be apt to impress
the voters of the state as n desirable
champion of ballot reform.
Members of the elections committee
authorized to speak last week aston
ished the Democrats by telling them
that a primary election law would be
reform law. that the bills would be
good measures and so enacted as to be
satisfactory to the Democrats II they
really desired honest election laws.
In accordance with this promise,
Representative William S, Van Dyke,
OF WeStmoreland at the proper time,
introduced in the house the Guthrie
primary bill. which is "an act to regu-
late the nomination of public officers,
primary elections ana the payment Of
certain expenses incident thereto and
prescribing penalties for the violation
of the provisions thereof or the COM
mission Of certain prohibited acts"
VINO is to prepare or who will intro
duce the general ballot reform bill the
stalwart managers will not state.
In regard to primary election laws,
many members Of the legislature say
they are not sure that a satisfactory
bill can be passed, one that would be
acceptable to all the polties "n-Les
They think the bringing together OF
all political parties to hold primaries
at the same place would have a ten
dency to disorganize political lines, and
therefore be conducive of harm in the
end.
There has been considerable discus
sion of the matter of reform in libel
laws, no doubt due to the introduc-
ton in Philadelphia Of yellow journal
ism of the yellowest type, in which the
regulations Of citizens stand for moth
ing when the politicians back OF the
yellow sheet seek to ruin or destroy
an opponent. There have been several
bills introduced in the legislature on
this subject, and it is believed that a
satisfactory bill will be drafted which
will be acceptable to publishers and Of
newspapers and those who wish to
meet the introduction of yellow jour-
nalism, with due regard for the inter
ests Of the legitimate newspaper pub
Usher,
RAOTCAT M EO IECTCI ALTON