The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-07
BALLOT REFORM CONFERENCE
rrLEGATES FROM MANY STATES
IN SESSION HERE.
Canadian Legislator Says HIS Country Ia
Facing the Same Problems We Are
indifference the Danger, Says Oscar
6fraus-Praiso for La Toilette.

s~fraus-PraisO for La Toilette.
A conference TO discuss reforms in the
election and primary laws began yesterday
In the rooms Of the Board Of Trade at 203
Broadway and will be continued to-day.
The conference is under the direction OF
the Civic Federation and delegates from all
sections Of the country took part in the
debate yesterday.
One OF the most interesting addresses
log the session was made by the Hon. II. L.,
Borden, leader Of the Opposition In the
Canadian House OF Commons, who told
about the election avs OF the Dominion
and the efforts made there fora pure ballot.
He said that while the system OF party
government in Canada was perhaps not
80 strong as here, yet it was SUI
foienlty strong to call forth criticism by
the people and a demand for better men
to carry on representative government.
Although the system here was different,
the two countries had enough in common
to demand three central reforms; Honest
expenditure OF public moneys, the appoint
ment to office for efficiency, and the freeing
Of elections from corruption.
Mr.. Borden eaid that while the Australian
ballot, long In force in Canada, had 40
COmpllbneu bOlu6 CuduBeei iVplu " WIN
az we'll as was expected. There was still
bribery, fraud by returning officers, and
manipulation Of ballots, but much less than
under the old system. He told how all
election contests in Canada were decided
by the Judges of the Superior Court instead
Of by the Legislatures themselves, and
advocated the ~oreation of the office Of Pub
lie Prosecutor, who should be charged with
kh1 arnaoial Iufu NJ InolfinU altar QOrrllnt
practices at elections.
The conference was called to order by
Oscar s. Stratus, who spoke on Reform
Of the Primaries and Election Laws" He
was very emphatic in his denunciation OF
boas rule and urged the people as a whole to
take a more practical interest In politics.
He said In part:
The brave and fearless conflict between
honest and dishonest politics has seldom,
II ever, won so signal and precious victories
for the moral law as was achieved by Gov.
Folk OF Missouri, by Mayor Weaver Of Phila-
delphia, by Senator Colby In New Jersey.
by jerome In New York and by the Prose-
cutting Attorney in Boston. and by similar
victories against long intrenched bossism
under the stimulating helpfulness and I'M
compromising attitude OF Secretary Bona
parte In Maryland and Secretary Taft in
Ohio.
The encouragement following these vic
tories has spread far beyond the States
and cities In which they were won. so that
throughout the length and breadth OF our
land the plain people" who love their parties
and their country, who by degrees have
been literally DISTINGUISHED by the bosses.
have been aroused to an appreciation of
their rights and to q sense of their power:
and from this awakening has resulted a re-
newed effort to break the chains OF boss
rule and to reclaim their rights as members
of their party and as free and independent
American citizens.
But we VIII show q poor appreciation Of
those results II we simply content ourselves
with rejoicing.
The freedom to vote Is OF little value unless
1t is supplemented by the freedom of the
voter to select the candidate for whom he
wishes to cast his ballot. coupled with the
certainty that his vote shall be honestly
counted.
One Of the main reasons why so many
forms of fraud and corruption creep into
our politics is because our people are q busy
people, and have been naturally attracted
to expend their energies In the many avenues
Of opportunity our country affords and
(which are the chief causes of her prosperity,
while the machinery of politics has too largely
attracted those who 20 into 1t for what they
can get out OF 1t in exclusion OF those who
should 90 In for the benefits they can bring
to the body polite. But this Is changing, as
Is evidenced by the kind of men who have led
the victories in the several States.
Let us not forget in the discussion or the
topics OF reform that viii come before us,
important and necessary as they are-all
these are but means to the end-that no
political contrivance, however minute and
drastic, can serve as q substitute Tor the in-
difference of the general body of electors
or for the lack OF the ever watchful spirit OF
unselnsh patriotism.
CORPORATION Counsel Delany welcomed
the delegates 10 the city in behalf Of the
Mayor, who was unable to be present. Ex-
Mayor Josiah Quincy of Boston, who pre-
sided at the morning session, was OF the
opinion that most OF the reforms in the
election system could be traced to the
ballot system. William d. Washburn, DR.,
representing Mayor Jones Of Minneapolis,
told how the direct primary law worked in
Minnesota and how the people OF that state
yearned for the election OF United States
Senators by popular vote.
Speaker Irvine G. Lenroot OF the Wis.
consin Assembly said that his State had
been under the domination of machine
politics for Twenty-Five years and that one
Toilette was the man who had delivered
the people from boss rule. 1t had taken
eight years TO put through the direct pm
mary law, but now it wa in force and work
ing to the great satisfaction OF everybody
but the professional politicians. He paid
"a high compliment to District Attorney
jerome and said he was known in every
household In Wisconsin for his integrity
and independence
sBut you have another type of public
official In your State that is also known all
toyer Wisconsin. l refer to your two United
States Senators. The sentiment toward
them, however, is entirely different from
that with which Mr., jerome is regarded,
Could either Of these men be nominated
for the high Office they hold under the direct
primary system? | know they could not"
Charles r. Russell, a member of Assembly
In Georgia, created amusement by dis
playing q ballot used at the. primary at
which he wa nominated. Each candidate
had an emblem. His was the head OF a
horse, and he said he had urged the voters
mot to scratch the horse.
ffnotice that this ballot says it Is a prti-
H4rnphry of this city. Don't you have
primaries for negroes, too?".
II was speaking about the Democratic
party" said Mr.. Russell politely, and the
delegates roared.
Among the other speakers were Horace
T., Deming, William H. Waddams, George
i. Record, Corporation Counse OF Jersey
Tgtw. Henry ~ Rlake of New Haven and Ry-