The Portland daily press., 1901-02-25
MAN BEHIND THE BALLOT
Address of Rev. Mr..
Bovard Last Night.
What is Needed in Municipal POli-
Ties.
The Americans Who
Wear.Chains.
Aim and Object Of Secret VOt-
ing Has Been Defeated.

Rev. MIR. Bovard preached a sermon
last night on "rhe man behind the bal
lot'' to large congregation including
many voters from all parts of the city.
lie said that the supreme obisot among
men is the regeneration OF the world.
The church has been looked to to bring
about higher civilization and has ac-
complished much, but there are other
agencies which may be used. de then
said that sometimes nation may ba
the approved agent of God in preparing
the soil of distant lands for the recep-
tion of the seed, as our own country
now seems to be. II this be true of the
nation, why may 1t not also be true OF
an institution such as the baliotf
The speaker then went on to speak OF
the Importance of good government In
the municipalities. These American
cities have been called the plague spots
of modern times the ulcers on ths body
polltic. Many things have been suggest
ed to relieve the congestion of our cities
but they have not been successful ana
they must be improved by bsing given
better government. He then went on
to speak of the necessity of good mu-
nicipal government which has SO far
been regarded as a signal failure In our
country.
This can only be brought about by the
men behind the ballot The men who
are to accomplish this should feel 20
the full degree their personal RESPONSE
hiIity and when . reproach is cast upon
their city they should feel the blush Of
shame as though 1t were 3 personal
reproach. What kind OF men can they
be who live in New York city and do
not cry out against Tammany Hallr
What kind of men can they be who liv-
ing In Portland do not feel the blush of
shame at the possibility OF men getting
into power who are actuated by the
lowest possible ideals who trRiz with
the law breaking element and sympa
thtze With thsmy
The speaker then went on to say that
1t was not alone necessary to vote right
but having voted the citizen should not
retire to his private business satisfied
with the result but should stand un-
rinohingly beside the men whom he has
placed In office and witch their career.
MIR. Bovard then scored the citizen who
claiming to know ali about politics and
the rottenness OF affairs stays at home and
takes no part In the effort to purify
them. He also said that the man who
casts the ballot must be free man.
The voters of this country are not all
free men. The fact that the stars and
stripes float from our public buildings
is not sufficient to guarantee freedom
to all men. ''If you think there are nc
slaves, stand with me at the ballot box
on election day and you Will ses unmis-
taxable signs of fearful bondage"
You Will sac greed marked on their
faces as they go marching to the ballot
box to the jingling of the guineas. They
are but the tools OF a giant machine
which is working the will of pluto
craoy. When they deposit a ballet they
perform a mockery. The shame of their
slavery Is only exceeded by the coward
ice OF those who shrink from their duty.
Here the clank, clank, clank OF the chains
which bind the limbs OF those who
march to the polls to do the will OF the
machine. II the city is to be made what
1t ought to be. go to the polls as free men
or voting is but a mockery.
! He then said that the man who dares
approach another man to buy his vots
should be ostraoized from society. He
then spoke OF the ward hselers who watch
every man as he makes his hallOt and said
that the will of the people expressed in
the new voting laws had been overcome
by the shrewd politicians who had turned
the voting booths in such a way that
any man outside the rail- could see how
every man voted. 1.-THE purpose and
aim OF these laws Will Oh are made &c
protect the voters should be carried
| out"
He said that hopeful sign was that
which is being manifested by thoughtful
men, that city politics have nothing to
do with national politics and tn at city
should be run on business principles and
that business men should be selected &C
adminittsr its affairs.