Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-07

Misrepresentation to Make 1t Be-
Iieve That They Are the Only
Champions of Reform, But Senator
Eocht Shows That the Measure He
Has Presented Meets q Popular De-
naand.
Especial Correspondence)
Philadelphia, March 5.-A lot OF
cheap notoriety is being given several
members of the legislature who have
presented bills providing for changes
IN the present ballot law.
Whenever any one of these bills is
opposed by a regular Republican the
cry goes forth from insurgent Repub-
lican organs that the Republican lead
ers are against ballot reform. The
insurgents who offered these bills prob
ably knew at the time they were Of
fered that the regular Republicans,
who are in control Of both branches OF
the legislature, intend to assume the
responsibility for any changes that are
made in the system of voting. They
do not propose to permit any insur-
ganization as to what changes shall
be made in the ballot.
Senator Quay, while in Harrisburg.
last week. conferred with Governor
Stone and leading Republican members
OF the legislature, and it was agreed
that no one should be permitted to in
terfere with the carrying out Of every
pledge made by the Republican party
for ballot reform. Col. Quay had a
conference with Senator Benjamin K.
Focht, of Union county. who has in
troduced ballot reform bill, and who
is chairman Of the senate committee
on elections, which will have to pass
upon all ballot and election measures
this session.
TO CONFER WITH GUFFEY.
Senator Quay stated that inasmuch
as the Democratic party has also de-
clared in favor of ballot reform, he
would be pleased to confer with Col.
Guffey, the leader of the state Democ-
racy, with a view to an agreement upon
a fair election ballot bill which Re-
publicans and Democrats alike could
support. 1t is manifest that Col. Quay
does not believe that the Republican
organization should shirk its duty of
giving the people an honest ballot re-
form bill.
There are several other reforms
which the Republican leaders desire
to see accomplished.
While the insurgent newspapers miss
no opportunity to misrepresent the ac-
tion OF the Republicans In the legisla-
ture on the ballot reform issue, when
the legislature shall have adjourned
the people will know that the Republic
can party has fulfilled all its pledges.
THE FOCHT BALLOT BILL.
bill which Is attracting much at
tention and which will be amended to
meet any program that the stalwart
Republicans may determine upon, is
known as the Focht bill. 1t was intro
duced by Senator Focht
In explaining the provisions Of this
measure. which Is now in the hands Of
the elections committee. Senator Focht
said:
Notwithstanding that party or
ganization is fundamental to any cleo
toral system. it is proposed to divide
nominations into those made by regu-
by non-political and individual effort.
For a party nomination it is reQui-
site that there be either a national,
state or county organization, governed
by set OF rules and requiring fixed
minimum public notice of the time and
manner of making nominations. This
is the first step toward legislative reg
ulation of primary elections, and by
giving official recognition to party
unities will naturally lead up to this
result.
Provision is also made for free NOM
nations by any group of citizens not
affiliated with any political party Such
nominations are all grouped under one
head as independent nominations. II
would seem most unwise to allow any
group Of citizens. having probably no
affiliatiOn outside OF their own munich
pal division. to dignity their efforts
with a political name and the sem
blance OF party regularity The Mar
tin bill. In 1899. required representa-
tion from every county In the state for
nomination by papers: this Is an on
erous requirement. and would practi-
caliy be prohibitory. The proposed
law requires representation from at
least ten counties for a place upon the
state ticket. and was so fixed for the
reason that 1t does not seem right that
disaffected group of citizens. or any
number OF citizens not members Of any
political party. should be able to secure
place upon the state ticket without
definite representation In some regu-
lated number OF counties.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
"second-In She printing OF the bal
lot the names OF all candidates for any
particular Office are to be grouped un-
der one heading. giving priority Of
place tn the dominant party. and ar
ranging all other party nominations In
the order OF votes cast al the last state
election. Following these are the
names Of all independent candidates,
arranged In alphabetical order. under
each once. following each name with
the designation independent nominss.'
Except that Independent nominees are
not permitted 10 choose . party desig-