Which Do You Prefer?

The Democrats, if they carry the presidential election, will have Governor Hill, of New York, to thank more than any other man. He vetoed the ballot reform bill which, if it had become a law, would have crippled the party in New York city many thousand votes. The loss of a thousand votes in that city may decide the whole election. Less than that number decided it last time. Just think of it ! After all our processions, speeches, bands, enthusiasm, etc, next fall, some Democratie manager may be able to buy np 500 more votes than were expected, and thus win the election ! The number of degraded men in the New "York boarding houses kept for voting purposes, alone reachesinto the thousands, and at every election these men are inarched with military precisión, to the polls. The ballot reform bill would stop that sort of th'ng, and it would be a law today had a Republican been governor of New York. It may be said that the Republicana passed the bill in the New York legislature, not from love of reform, but because it would injure the Democratie chance of victory. Perhaps that influenced many voters. Strict paity lines were drawn. But still the bill is one recognized by the best observers of all parties to be necessary if free government is to last. The United States cannot afford to have the buying of votes in New York decide a national election, for a despotism will certainly ensue if that thing is not stopped. The Republicans of Michigan, under the lead of a labor representative from Detroit, Judson Grenell, nearly passed a similar bilí in the last legislature. It passed the house ; when the senate passed it with a few minor amendments, and it reached the house again on the last night of the session. The Demócrata smothered it when the Republicana were not on their guard. The Republicans, of course, are not without blame, for they had a majority, and might have passed it; but the active opposition of a few Demócrata finally killed the bill in the Michigan legislature. Whatever may be the motives of the Republicana, it is certain that all progressive reforms in this country so far have originated from thera. The Democrats have never passed a civil service reform law, but tb ere are three or four in successful operation in the United States. Henry George, although he supports Cleveland because of his free trade message, recognizes this superior tendency of the Republican party by advising his followers to vote the Republican state tickets ; and in congressional elections where both candidates are opposed to free trade he advises that the Republican candidate be supported as a rule. He distinctly States that we are more likely to get electoral reform from the Republican party, than from the Democratie party.