The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-29
ELECTION REFORM
BILL PROPOSED TO ABOLISH ALL
PARTY EMBLEMs
May Result In the Election Of Dem.
ocratlc United States Senator
From Ohio.

Toledo, O., Dec. 25.---"A bill to es-
tablish nonpartisan municipal cleo
tions" may and probably win be the
cause of the election of Democrat to
the United States senate from Ohio in
two years. Tho bill will be presented
to the house Of representatives at CO.
lumbus by Daniel ]. ORourke, the in
dependent elected from Lucas county
at the last election. Eight of the
most prominent attorneys of north
western Ohio with Charles s. North
rup, city solicitor-e elect, the prime
mover, have been working ON the bill
for some time and 1t is Just FIN
ished.
In the lower body the Republicans
have a nominal majority OF three. In
the upper body IL is a partisan tie,
with Senator Lamb, Independent Of
Toledo, holding the balance of power
Now the question arises what action
will the lower body take on the bill
when 1t comes to vote. It's passage
means the downfall of party bossism,
and, therefore, the downfall Of the
power of the Ohio state Republican
machine. The Democrats want to
please Lamb. He VIII be especially
anxious for the passage Of the bill, and
for this reason the Democrats prob
ably will make IL party measure.
But they have not the votes to pass
1t In the lower house, and il it fails
there 1t will not get to the senate,
where it would be passed on Lambs
vote.
If, however, the Democrats make It
o party measure, as is highly probable
and in fact almost certain, it will
make the Republicans support it or ar
ray the latter organization against the
people and in favor Of the bosses. This
would make a direct issue next cleo
ton for the legislature, in which the
Democrats would be for the people and
the Republicans against them. This
condition probably would result in a
Democratic Legislature which woull
elect a Democrat to succeed Foraker.
Many think this result would be
pleasing to Senator Dick and the old
Hanna guard, and that Dick will op-
pose this bill for the avowed purpose
of maintaining partisan politics, but
really with view of eliminating For
aker.
IL, on the other hand, the uneXpect-
ed happens and the bill is passed in
the lower house, it will be cared for by
Lamb in the senate, and the peoples
first legislative victory over bossism
will have been accomplished and the
ultimate good will come sooner than il
1t is defeated And still further, il
the bill be- passed, it means that the
question Of the nonpartisan elections
will be taken up into the township,
county and state tickets. With this
fact to face it seems almost incredible
to believe that the Republicans will
allow the passage of the bill, but will
rather prefer to take chances at the
election in two years.
In brief the bill will provide for the
abolishment of all party emblems on
the city tickets. The candidates
names will be- so placed as to rotate
so that there will be no advantage IN
position, In the printing of the ballots
one name will occupy a certain posi-
tion on a certain number Of the bal
lot and another name will supplant 1t
on the next certain number, and so on,
each manshaving different position
on ever so many ballots. The candI-
dates will be selected by petition.