Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-21
Legislative News
ALL ELECTION ACT
AMENDMENTS co
Governor Vetoes the Senate Bills
Which Would Have Made Many
Changes to the Laws

All election law amendment bills
of any importance were vetoed by
Governor Brumbaugh. They were
given out as vetoed before the Gov
ernor left the city on Saturday, but
not to be published until this morn
ing.
The so-called "antifusion bin was
vetoed by the Governor with these
words: Its purpose is to compel all
parties nominating candidates at the
primary to carry their tickets un-
changed to the election. There are
reasons for such a law, any one con-
versant with the unnatural alliances
of a recent campaign might well IA
Vor such an enactment and such con-
ditions undoubtedly provoked and
prompted the introduction and pas
sage of this bill. But the fact that
some have abused what others would
use is not sufficient warrant for the
approval of this bill. 1t may well be
that the time will come when under
present law citizens may cooperate
to promote the loftiest ends of good
government. 1t would be unfortu-
nate if by any law this were pre-
vented. 1t is a serious matter un-
duly to restrict the electorate and pre-
vent such concert of action as will
give the people relief in case mis-
take is made in the nominations.
The party in power will always Sc
cure the sympathy and support of
right thinking citizens when it meets
in the open and unrestricted its po-
litical opponents. Any attempt to
thwart concert of action or to limit
reorganization of interests prior to
election is likely to produce criti-
cism and opposition. The American
voter loves free, fair play; and. in
last analysis, those that abuse the
"a
voters will suffer, not profit by their
misalliance."
People to Rule
In Vetoing the bill regulating the
formation of new parties the Cover
nor says: Its whole intent is to de-
fine party lines early in the year.
to prevent fusion thereafter and
tential election and the election that
follows more or less a matter of
course. To compel voters before Feb
ruary l to define their ultimate pur-
pose as to the election in November
is to restrict and hamper that in
dependence of action which, though
juggling and shifting of candidates
and parties may sometimes be done,
cannot in fairness be denied the cleo
torate if we are to take the spirit
of our government seriously. If the
people are to rule It is only fair to
give them the opportunity to do
So"
on the bill which would give the
Republican party the first place on
the ballot in the next election be-
cause of polling the largest vote at
a general election the Governor says:
"To deny the Democratic party the
preference in place on the ballot won
at the last presidential election is of
doubtful advantage to a party which
for a time was in the minority but
which is usually overwhelmingly in
the majority. 1t is ripper" meas
ufe which would provoke justifiable
criticism A political party is en-
titled to all the advantages 1t can
fairly win at the polls The place
of party on the ballot is no longer
of great significance. Voters are quite
capable of finding the candidates
they desire and the will of the peo-
pie will be fairly expressed. Having
the right of line is of little advan-
tage, but whatever it may be, it
should be won at the polls and not
by Legislative enactment"
Committeeman Bill, Too
The bill to change the election of a
national committeeman is declared to
be retroactive and hence imperative.
The Governor says the bill also chang
es the per cent. of the vote re-
quired to establish a political party
and while he assumes it was not in
tended to destroy any political parties
it would accomplish that result and
is therefore unfair and unreason-
able" The clause relative to cleo
tion of a national committeeman he
says refers to 1913 and it is to be re-
gretted that the real intention can