The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-28

- ny tne fnllautlpnla Press.
are uttering dire warnings
Of retrihution FOR members of the
Legislature who shall go on record
In favor Of ballot reform without sac
,fcc of the party circle. The Press. in
particularly, calls solemn attention to
the fact that the party circle has been
repudated by such eminent bodies as
the Pittsburg chamber of commerce.
The Scranton board of trade. the
Trades league, of Philadelphia; the
the Pennsylvania Ballot Reform assoc
citation, and a multitude Of other or
Canizations similar in character. and
the inference which it seeks to convey
j. that If law is passed which does
not eliminate that circle, the worthy
gentlemen comprising the membership
of these distinguished bodies win dedi-
cate themselves forthwith to the waC-
ing of political war.
our observation in these matters has
not led us to accept our contempo.
rarN's view. Whatever may be true
a. to the Pittsburg chamber of COM
merce and the Trades league of Phila-
dclphia, we are willing to predict that
the board of trade of Scranton will
accept the party circle on the new bal
lot philosophically, and or election day
he very glad of it as Il convenience
in voting. Our judgment is that there is
none of them who does not realize that
at least sevcnty-liNe per cent of the
voters deposit straight tickets, and
are therefore manifestly entitled to an
arrangement of the ballot which ex-
redites their voting and preserves
them from the liabilities of miss
mai king.
The feW very earnest young gentle
men OF wealth and leisure I'm Philadel-
phia and other large cities who have
taken up the subject of ballot reform
with the enthusiasm Of dealists doubt
less have very little use for the party
circle. As matter of fact. they have
very little use for parties of any kind.
unless IT rs their own party, which is
usually at Variance with the other
parties. and they are naturally am
bilious t. sec their opinions impressed
upon the legislation of the common,
wealth. If the amended Guffev bill
which the Republican leaders at Har-
risDurg have endorsed. shall be enact.
ed, these ballot reformers will in a
measure succeed, Under the provis-
ions OF the Gufiey bill as amended
the names of al candidates ar,
grouped together in one column, under
designations OF different offices, with
the party designation To the right
and whenever any persons receive
nominations from moro than one party
The names OF such parties shall all BE-
given. Following the names of the
party nominees will appear names Of
all candidates nominated by independ-
ent nomination papers, alphabetically
arranged. This will do away with the
multiple columns, which have hereto
fore made some of the official ballots
resemble bolts of wall paper and bring
the whole space within the compass of
sheet not much larger than the or
dinary magazine page. This will be a
gain, both in economy and convenience,
and the ballot reformers will be en-
titled to n generous share of credit for
bringing it about.
But the Guffey bill as amended also
provides-and here is where the pro-
fessional reformers of limited number
must defer TO the convenience of the
great majority of voters--that there
shall be printed at the top Of the col
unnn. atross the width thereof. ss many
circles as there are political parties or
groups of independent nominations,
each circle to contain the name OF a
separate party. Every mark within a
circle shall be equivalent to a mark
after the name of each nominee of the
party 10 which the circle belongs. If
there are two dozen Republican or
Democratic nominees, the Republican
mark in the circle of his party, can
vote the entire ticket without further
ado II, however he wishes to split
his sticket, printed directions clearly
inform him how this may be done.
Another point in the amended Guffey
bill. about which there is criticism and
controversy. relates to the proviso that
II any voter shall declare to the Judge
or election that by reason of any dis
ability he desires assistance in the
preparation of his ballot, he shall be
permitted by the judge of elections TO
select any elector of his voting pre-
cinct to aid him in such preparation
Of his ballot in the voting compart-
nent. The objection here raised is
that this provision opens the door to
fraud. No doubt II does when there
T. fraudulent purpose pl esent at the
polls. The SAME objection could be