Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-27
Federal Supervisors.

are therein justified in demanding the
repeal of the jury test oath, as also
the prohibition of the use of soldiers
at elections; but they are at the same
time warned that they will not be sus-
tanned by the country if they demand
and insist upon the repeal of the pro-
visions of the statute authorizing the
appointment of Federal supervisors
at elections. The Times is usually
very clear and sound upon questions
of policy, and we are sorry to see it so
deeply in the mud on this question.
II is true that Representative Springer
and some other Democrats are dis
posed to compromise on this question,
and to permit the supervisor law to
remain, when it is so amended as to
remove its more obnoxious features
This is put upon the ground that it
would look like wishing to remove the
guaranty of fair elections, to insist
upon the absolute repeal of the Super
visor act. We think both the Times
and the compromising Democrats are
wrong, both in principle and policy.
Elections are and ought to be held un-
der Stale laws. The qualifications of
voters are fixed by the several State
constitu tions, and all election officers
are ele oted or appointed under State
laws. Misconduct on the part of these
officers is crime against the State,
aud net against the General Govern
ment 1t is impossible even for repre-.
sentatives in Congress to be elected at
elections held under code of FEEDER
nj laws. What would the Times say
to proposition to have all Congress.
men elected under a federal code
which should provide all the machin.
cry for proper and practical election;
such a. defining the extent and boun-
diaries of election districts, the pre-
vious registration of voters by feder-
al officers, the election of judge, in
spectors and clerks to hold the elec-
ton, defining what evidence the elec-
ton officers should require as to the
qualification of each voter--the pay
ment out Of the National treasury
of the expenses of the election, and
finally, Federal returning board Of
some kind to receive, compute and Ger
tify the returns? All this would be
as practical and proper, and much
more convenient, than to appoint
Federal officers to oversee and super
wise State elections. All elections
should be fair and honest, and ade-
quate provisions should be made to
guarantee and enforce this fairness
and honesty, if any evil disposed per-
son should attempt to produce false
result by fraud or violence but these
provisions should be made by the sew
eral States and not by the federal
government. The proyisi ons of our
election laws in Pennsylvania for the
appointment of one overseer from each
party to oversee the election whenever
citizens petition for their appointment
is far b',tter guaranty than any that
can be made by Congress. These
State overseers are appointed by the
Courts in each county, VIII IRE the
Judges are generally persona uy ac-
quainted with the people amt can
make f,ir and judicious selec tons,
whereas, at least, the federal su per
visors must be appointed by the u. s.
District Court, where the dist 'ict
judge could have no personal kno, VI
edge of the men he was asked to a, p
point. For instance, how could judg .
ketchum at Pittsburg make proper
selections of supervisors for Benner
township, Philipsburg or Houtsdale
boroughs7 The fact is, the federal
supervisor law was never intended to
promote fairness and honesty in the
conduct of elections, but, on the other
hand, was devised as a means for fraud.
ulently and corruptly controlling
the result Of elections against the wish
and voice Of a majority Of the people.
III Il al