The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-10-31


during the early days Of the campaign
to ignore the Amendment to the Con
stitution in the interest of personal
registration, which will be voted upon
at the November election, it now is
being made one of the issues of the
political contest in the State. The
Registration Amendment is of the
greatest Importance, and it should not
be lost sight of in the bitter factional
and partisan contest which is waging
around the election of State and
county officers
Notwithstanding the prominence
given recently to the proposed amend
ment, there is noticeable lack of
knowledge on the part of many per-
sons concerning the import and effect
Of the Registration Amendment.
While IN itself 1t does not provide for
personal registration, yet it places
within the hands of the Legislature
power to enact personal registration
laws at such future time as may be
deemed best by the law-making body
of the State. This would be posi-
tive stride in the direction of reform
IN the election methods of the State,
and as such should receive the unan-
imous support Of all voters, irrespect.
i've of party or factlonal alliances.
The Registration Amendment is
without partisan influence. 1t already
has been endorsed by the Democratic
State organization, the Municipal
League and the Union party. Gov
ernor Stone has expressed the belief
that 1t will be without opposition from
the Republican organization and many
other of the Republican leaders have
declared themselves as heartily in ia.
vor of Its adoption.
The Committee on Ballot Reform
Of the Pittsburg Chamber of Com.
merce has determined to give It's al
tentlon to the pending Registration
Amendment and has arranged for a
meeting at which public attention
will be called to the importance OF
the question. Former Mayor Will
lam Kennedy, Of Pittsburg, in dis.
cussing the matter of the Registration
Amendment, has this to say:
81 think personal registration should
be made condition of the exercise
OF the right to vote in all cities of
this State. In the country it is not
needed. There everybody knows ev.
erybody else and there is no need OF
it. But in the cities, with their large
number of foreigners and their float
ing population, the opportunity which
the present system offers for the vot-
ing of repeaters is practically unlim.
tied. Personal registration would do
away completely with this opportunity
for fraud.
"Unfortunately, as l understand it,
the question is to be submitted on the
general ballots in such way that it
will not attract much attention and
there is every reason to fear that the
people may allow it to be defeated
through overlooking it. Such result
would be matter for profound re-
gret and would greatly retard the
cause of election reform"
The Democratic State Committee,
at its recent meeting in Harrisburg,
when the name of Mr.. Coray was sub
stituted for that of A. ]. Palm for
State Treasurer on the Democratic
ticket, adopted the following:
"Whereas, We firmly believe that
the adoption of the proposed Regis,
tration Amendment will secure in a
great measure honesty IN elections
and make for the good OF the people (;
therefore be it
"Resolved, That the Democratic
party pledges itself to the support of
the proposed Registration Amend.
ment and hereby calls upon all quail
fed electors in the State to join in
the support of the same and use all
lawful means to secure Its adoption"