The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-08
The Supervisors Law.

The Supervisors Law,
IF further proof were Deeded to show the
iniquitous workings of the supervisors
law, the developments 10 the congressional
Investigation at Cincinnati would be am-
pie. The democrats have claimed that
the law was an Infringement on the rights
of the states and that it was used to
further republican interests; that in the
selection of men to act as supervisors,
some of the worst criminals in the country |
were appointed; that no one not sworn to
act solely in the interest of the republican
party could secure a position as super
visor, and that in no case was republi-
can arrested for an alleged infringement
of election laws, All that has been charg-
ed is true-and the half has not been told.
In Cincinnati DR.. Thrall, who made all of
the appointments, testified that no one
was given position as supervisor, unless
be was q republican; that he (Dr. Thrall)
was member of the republican party and
he did not intend to appoint any but those
of that political faith. The nonchalent
impudeuce Of this man is in full keeping
with those who are always selected to do
the dirty work assigned to supervisors,
aud that he is fully up to the required
standard Of political perfidy, his manage
ment of the congressional election in Ciu-
cinnasi conclusiYely shows But not alone
in Ohio, is the villainous effects Of this law
felt, it is the same wherever it is enforced.
Take for instance, New York City, and q
record Of the most Infamous outrages is
found. There John l. Davenport the
prince of ballot box manipulators reiRns
as the supreme supervisor, and the Wal
lace congressional committee now investi-
eating the manner Of enforcing the law,
has evidence at hand which will
show q state of things which ought
10 cause a blush to tIngle the
cheek of every true American. Not
only were people driven from the polls
and arrested by thousands, without war
rant and in defiance of state law-but the
men who were delegated by this pure
minded Davenport to prevent fraud, were
OF the very worst criminal classes Of New
York, men gathered from the slums and
cutters because of their villainy and read
mess to do any and all kinds of dirty work il
tho interest of the republican party
Under this model law and By direction o
the INSCRIPTIONS villain Davenport, hun
dreds of the most reputable merchants il
New York were shut up 10 dungeons lik
case hardened criminals, refused accession
to the courts, denied counsel, and whel
they asked for what purpose they wer
thus confined were told by the creature
Davenport, that it was no part of thei
business. And thus. under lock and key
without.warrant, with no charge agains
them, these men who had never done
wrong act 10 their lives, and whose recor
was without stain, we're guarded by
gang of ex-prison cOnvicts armed wit
federal authority as supervisors. Th
law is the most Infamous ever enacte
and Chat it is purely in the interes
of the republican party can be easil
proved. OF the whole number-over 6, 900
arrested in New York City, not singl
man was proved guilty or even brought I
trial-and they we're arrested, as Daver
port afterwards reluctantly admitted
because they we're democrats. A law thu
gives the right to arrest without warran
whether a crime has been committed G
not, that recognizes and is subvervlent
no court OF a state or the United States
that can be construed to give the power
arrest under the mere SuppOsltiOn of a
tateRt to commit a crime is subversive
free government, is in antagonism to Ii
spirit Of our tree institutions, and If pc
mitted to remain as part of our statu
will eventually undermine the republi
And yet this infamous measure, th
supervisors law that gives the most
prayed criminal unlimited power, is part
the republican policy of national supreu
acy'-and one of what the same repub
eau party calls-"vital principles" II
law is an outrage on liberty, makes far
of justice, deprives the states of IL
inalienable right to control in state ma
tiers, is strictly a partisan measure ar
should be wiped from the statutes. Viii
it remains in force the people will not
secure 10 the exercise of the dearest priv
leges Of an American citizen-a free an
untrammelled ballot