New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-12
TIE FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS.
iii T I'D '1I'tRI1 IT'D = -.
DEMOCRATIC ALARM LEST THE REPUBLICANS MAY
CAPTURE THE NEXT HoUsE-THE PENlIENIIAHf
NrRY MAR TO CFETAIN DEMOCRATS

L
,r,,ocp,rrC ALARM LIST THE REPUBLICANS MAY
CAPTURE THE NEXT HoUsE-THE PENITENIlARf
Very NEAR TO CERTAIN DEMOCRATS
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Feb. l1-One of the strongest Ics-
sons assigned by speaker in the Democratic
caucus last night for the passage of Senator 4hI-
mans resolution TO amend Section 500 OF the Re-
yised Statutes. which provides the machinery ioI
drawing jurors in United States Courts was inc IUI-
lowing: lie said that unless some means cOulu DC
devised to prevent the Radio ais who have control
Of the courts in the Southern States from conthu-
inc the prosecutions for election frauds the Demo
cratic majority in the next House OF Representa-
tiyes might entirely disappear before the meeting
of the XLYIth Congress. Figuring it as closely as
lie could he found that the Democratic majority at
most would be only four; and he reminded his
roical friends that two Of those four MIR. Hull OF
florida. and Mr.. King of LOulsianal, are already
Acknowledgement for participation elecloh TauuS'
and nav be in the Penitentiary before the hlSI
session of the next Congress. 1t has become, he
sold of the utmost importance that these prosocn-
lions for election frauds should stop for they might
result il a capture of the House by the RepuOh-
cans
Itmav be said here that the distinctive pro-
visions Of Section 500 Of the Revised Statutes were
not enacted during or since the close Of the war
nor were they engrafted into the laws OF the
eouutrv as a part of the reconstruction policy
While there was one unimpOrtant amendment 10
tins act passed in 1870 aud another applying ONLY
10 the state of Pennsylvania passed in 1870, the
general system of drawing jurors was established as
& now exists in 1910. What Mr.. Thurman pro-
poses therefore Is not to strike from the statute
books provision Of law which grew out of the
changed relations of the Southern States, but one
winch has existed for nearly forty years.
L : r-.lf t.tffr 10 N
1cscntng the sentiment Of the majority OF Repubii-
cans in the House. warned the Democrats this after
noon that If they should undertake to repeal the
Federal election laws, they will have to 80 before
the country bearing the responsibility OF an extra
session.
In regard to Sections $50 and s21 Of the Revised
Statutes. providing a test oath for jurors, Mr.. Hale
said that he and his Republican friends would care
very little. These sections were once repealed by
Republican Congress, and were incorporated IN the
Revised Statutes by mistake. question has been
raised. he said as to the validity OF any
section which has come into the Revised
Statutes in TINS way; ana at any rate the
Federal courts have found the sections obstacle
rather than an aid in the prosecution Of persons
cuiltv of crimes against the United States. he had
been informed, lie said that counsel for defendants
I'm Alabama had fled demurrer against certain in
lictmcnts recently found Oh the ground that the
,rou clad oath had not been administered to Jurors
in accordance with the sections under coDsldera-
ton. He also remarked that for years
tho prosecuting officers in the South have
treated these sections as a dead letter, and have
rarely or never administered the iron-clad oath
either 20 grand or petit jurors.
The sentiment of the Republican paRy in regard
10 tie election avs Is Mr. Hale said altogether Of
different character; and those laws the Republic
cans will not allow 20 b. repealed by any amend
meut 10 the / .-islAtiye, Executive aud Judi
oal Appropriation bill. if By any means
I'm their power they can prevent II. Tins move
mont on the part OF the Democracy seems 10 he 80
peclallv l-tined. No members Of Congress are 10
BE- chosen during the present year or before another
session Of Congress, and the only reason thar can
now De assigned for the repeal Of the law Is that
unlcr IFS operation gigantic frauds upon the ballot,
committed IN South Carolina and other southern
States last November. have been exposed and de
nounced. Except for this Jaw the DEM Gratis of
south Carolina would have been able not ONLY %
carry that state by means of tie tissue ballots bat
they would also have prevented any proof from
beng obtained of the frauds Of which they were
guilty.