New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-08
ANALYZE VOTING LAWS.
EXPERTS IN CONFERENCE.
Many Reform Schemes Enpounded
and Explained.


Clinton Rogers Woodruff. OF Philadelphia. pre-
sided at the morning session. Professor H. A Gar
HELD Of Princeton, spoke IN the morning criticsing
paper read on Tuesday by Henry T. Blake, of
New-Eaven, Conn.
In beginning his speech Professor Garfield said
he believed in municipal ownership but the man
who knows only municipal ownership is not fitted
70 be the mayor Of great city" Continuing. he
SAID; we want a ballot that will permit us do
away with what is considered a wrong the cleo
ton rather than the appointment of so many off,
Gals
Z. V. Z. Van Deusen representing Senator John
Raines, read paper favoring the New-York type
OF ballot He opposed the Massachusetts ballot
account of the tendency of the voter using Il to
slight the lesser offices.
A w. Terrell, former minister to Turkey under
president Cleveland. chairman of the committee
on elections in the House of Representatives In
ieXas and author OF the Terrell Election Law.
read paper on the election laws OF his state.
He described the poll tax Qualification of the Texas
law and declared that the penalties for violation
PROVIDED by the law had given clean general
eecuon- he defended the poll tax the ground
that the man who unable to pay the tax of
slI5 was not desirable as a voter
Mr. Terrell said the great trouble with the negro
In Texas is not at the ballot box but from his
sensual nature.
James G. Monahan. Collector of Internal Revenue
at Madison Wis. made ringing speech criticsing
the Wisconsin Primary Law and the La Toilette
system He said IN part:
The primary election law of Wisconsin instead
instead Of fhe P0Wer Of the boss It,
env on protecting the rights OF the people IN
Of relieving them from taxation aids to their
burden. instead OF bringing the people nearer to
-. wisconsin will have a candidates platform, in
pe Of T9 fa TACT r mat the pgE
declaration OF their principles into their party
legislative Candidates. whose chief aim is to be
elected, and If necessary would make a platform
situation which brings the blush of shame to the
William 5 Bennett, Congressman from this CITY
told the gonfeTenes that when he wanted the Con
Of one man. although he represented the SURFACES
OF $4,000 people In speaking Of conventions Con-
n s0pditoR such as this the average delsg2ts
election district captain who is never absent from
adyce from the s esdeT a5d %ho g ons
improper thing being said, done or suggested the
by those unpiedged' uninstructed and highly re-
spectacle delegates.
Richard ". Jennings. of the State Returning
Board OF Rhode Island said that in his state. where
the Massachusetts ballot IS used in some cases
per of the ballots blank defective.
He said he believed the voter got tired before he
went through the list. Richard Henry Dana, OF
Boston, did not believe this but that the voter
simply voted for those officers IN whom he
interested
Former Mayor Low presided at the afternoon
sion. He said:
r sn PoS Tac belle. ben ae cdasta5
own party unless their votes are bought. Through
thing ~; must be done about it. and measures to give
publicity are being agated In yaT9gs STATE
experience of Chemung County, in this state. which
sand votes Some years ago an election cost about
esde of m g pares 0 o so and agreed o
the amount to be expended $40 to each election
than in other years
William Church Osborn member OF the Associa-
ton TO Prevent Corrupt Practices at Elections
said. in part:
Vote buying is no thing in this state. An
knows of it's practice there at least fifty years ago
In the course Of time 1t has become practically ally
tricts the floating vote runs up 3d. 20 and 80 per
e q that af o o1 district m Wo efsF out
total Of $50 expected to be paid about Election
the a@s5oH NTH 5sgaTa to publicity
act, which cannot be left to public officers. We
have. therefore. proposed two procedure acts-one
By any citizen on ding Bond into the h truth con-
sna need of ng he o BY any ny
quiry into the existence of corrupt practices in
and prompt procedure act is essential to the en-
forcement Of publicity law and. in our judgment,
bringing of such procedure. When it comes TO
devious ways OF politicians. We believe that it viii
probably be necessary to put before the average
stand and which will be directly and personally
beneficial TO him
Robert Luce. of Boston discussed in detail The
Massachusetts Corrupt Practices Act He said in
part;
The most encouraging and inspiring result. TO
the rules of the game that concern politics has
been the growth of the conviction that most
prefer TO play fair have found that even those
ask only for a square deal They now hit below
the belt or make a foul tackle because the other
form has come from fbos WsTd in Rosfon wba ere
political conditions are believed TO be the most
corrupt and from the men who were prohting by
The most severe criticism has from
and nellieence Conscious Of their own i" Strength
of character and themselves needing no protection.
their personal freedom. forgetting that laws must
be made for the many and not for the few.
Mark F. Sullivan, Of this city. told of conditions
in recent elections I'm a county Of Southeastern
Pennsylvania, where he $1,000 handed out
ELECTION Day among six hundred voters. He said
90 to 20 per cent OF the votes were bought.
E. 3. sturgis. of Scranton, and John 0. Sheath,
of Philadelphia. followed Mr.. Sullivan, and defend
ed Pennsylvania.
George L. Fox principal of the University school
Of New-Hayen. said In part:
If corruption at elections is be lessened much,
the states must enact and enforce laws after the
twentx,.fve Years. have been most effective The
few such laws hitherto existing in this country
structure and lack OF rigid enforcement. Most of
them lack the absolute essential of such laws viz:
powers TO Investigates charges 10 nulify elections
and disqualify guilty candidates for a term OF
years.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved That the National Civic Federation be
branch Of its organization to take jurisdiction OF