Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-10-10
The Corrupt Inhuence OF Fall Elec.
tfOna.

One thing IL apparent from the experie noes
of this Presidential campaign, and that Ia
the necessity In the interests OF the fairness
Of the franchise and the purity OF national
politics that there shall be one uniform day
OF election In all the states. Under the pre-
sent system OF fall elections In some of the
states prior TO the Presidential election, two
or three states virtually decide In advance
who shall be President. This not only gives
undue preponderance TO the states so voting
but affords q direct bid for all sorts OF fraud
and corruption TO be concentrated to carry
these states At all hazards. In this cam
paign II IL conceded that IL Ohio aud Indiana
both go democratic to day Mr.. Tilden will
reelected President; II These states go repub-
licsn MIR. Hayes will be elected. Now
where such tremendous issues are at stake
on tie result in two states OF the thirty
eight In the Union, 1t is not strange that
charges are made OF endless devices by the
larty managers on each side to achieve
success by foul means, if fair means
fail. AT the same time the whole
population OF these states are worked
up into q condition OF abnormal fever
ishDess by the high pressure of q canvass
where there IL 80 much at stake. The evils
of tie fall election system have been 30 ap-
parent that national attempt to reform IL
was made in 1872 through the passage of an
act by Con gress requiring all members of
the Forty fifth and every succeeding Con-
gress 70 be chosen on the Tuesday following
the nrst Monday In November. No little
progress has been made towards uniformity
within the last four years, but Its full
achievement has been retarded by an act of
Congress passed March 3, 1875, modifying the
law OF 1872, $50 as not to apply to any State
that has not yet changed its day of election,
and whose constitution must be changed In
order TO effect a change In the day of the cleo
tion OF State officers In said State" 1t Is not
doubted, however. that before the Presiden-
tIal election OF 1880 all the States will choose
their members of Congress and State officers
on the same day. Pennsylvania, which only a
few years ago was virtually the deciding
state Ia the Presidential election, through
her fall election, has made a voluntary sur.
render of her old position by a constitutional
amendment changing her state election from
October TO November. New HAMPSHIRE
which was not bound by constitutional re-
strictions, changed the day OF her state cleo
tton at the last session OF her legislature
Since 1872, North Carolina, Connecticut and
Nebraska have, also, amended their consti-
tutions End fixed their state elections on the
same day when al the Presidential electors
are required TO be chosen. Ohio also at
tempted the same reform In the amended
constitution which was submitted to the
vote OF her people In August. 1874. That
constitution was rejected for purely local
reasons, but 1t Is believed that the people of
That state are sufficiently impressed now
with the dangers and annoyances from an
October election In the Presidential year to
be willing to embrace the first opportunity
TO join with the other states In making the
day uniform. Vermont, Maine aud Indiana
will also, without doubt, come into line to
make the change complete.