The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-03-26
IN. Y. Tribune.l
The Democratic "COmprOmise.N 9

Finding the repeal of the Federal election
law condemned by public sentiment and re-
sisted by the solid Republican minority in Con-
gress, reinforced by the President, the Demo-
Gratis talk of a compromise. They will let the
statate stand with the exception Of the section
authorizing the appointment Of deputy mar
shals to enforce it. This they are determined
to wipe out. They are in favor of the law, but
opposed to its enforcement. They can get
slobg with the legislation against repeating,
ballot-box stuffing, fraudulent registration and
bogus naturalization. provided there is no way
of arresting the rascals who commit these
offences. They are willing to admit that crime
in the abstract is bad thing, but they object
to any interference with the criminals. Plenty
of law but no police is their idea of govern
ment.
The provisions of the election law respecting
deputy marshals have been grossly mistepre-
sented for partisan purposes. The marshals
have not the power of making arbitrary arrests,
The law expressly provides that "no person
shall be arrested without process for any
offeuse not committed in the presence of the
marshal or his general or special deputies, or
either of them, or of the supervisors of election,
or either Of them. Nor shall any per-
SOD, on the day Of such election, be arrested
without process for any offense commi ted on
the day of registration In this resp ct the
powers of the deputy y-marshals are similar to
those of policemen. The election laws must be
openly violated under their eyes or those of the
supervisors before they can interfere and take
the offenders into custody. Furthermore, the
appointment OF deputy msrshals is restricted
to cities Of over twenty thousand Inhabitants.
10 the country aud the smaller towns election
laws are enforced and the purity OF the ballot
secured by the watchful interest of the large
body OF good citizens, Where every body is
known to everybody, fraud is difficult to COM
m1t without instant detection. But In large
cities the majority of the voters in every pre-
cinct are Strangers to each other, few men
outside of the professional politicians take an
active interest 10 the conduct Of elections, and
frauds are easily perpetrated unless there are
specisl safeguards provided. The deputy
marsbals stand 10 relation to the Federal cleo
ton law 10 the position Of policemen TO the
general laws against crimes and misdemeaDors,
and there is the same reason for their appoint
ment that there is for maintaining a police
force. Their presence at the polls is q restraint
upon no honest voter, but it is terror to ras'
Gals of all SORTS. Ii may be that there have
been instances of Geputy. .msrshsls abusing
their powers, but SO there have been Of police
men and all o'her ministers Of the law; yet
who proposes to break up the police system?
Ii the Federal election law rs wise and need
full then the maehinery for enforcing IL ought
to be retained. In proposing to abolish it ought
machinery while retaining the body 0t the
law, the Democrats give away their case and
put themselves In position that Is aosuruiy