Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-25
AN INSTRUCTIVE POLITICAL 10,
SUE.

twill be instructive for the reading
public. Republicans and Democrats, to
observe the exact attitude of the stall
warts in Congress toward the modltica-
ton proposed in the election laws APP
pointing deputy marShais to supervise
elections, which has now passed the
House over the almost solid opposition
of the Republican members, and which
will encounter their united opposition
IN the Senate.
Under the law as it has been, election
marShals in any number he may choose,
are appointed by the United States Mar
shall for the district. on election day they
have power to arrest any citizen on their
own motion aud without warrant aud
drag him OF 10 Jail; and they are all
chosen from one party, and are IN TACT
directly dependent on that party,
and are paid ior their party ser
vices out Of the Federal treasury, and
made more effective for party use 10y be-
ing endowed with practically unlimited
authority to arrest or intimidate voters
of the opposite political complexion.
Now, the Democrats having failed, by
reason Of the ready veto OF the man IN
the White House, To remove this IN
famous and undemoCratic party ma
chincry from the statute books, have
offered the next best thing: they have
provided an amendment which simply
takes the appointing power out OF the
hands OF the partisan marShals AMI
gives il to the United States Circuit
Judges, requiring them to select depu-
ties equally from both parties.
This proposition is SO fair, so bipartisan
and demanded by every sense OF right
and Justice and every consideration
Of good government that 1t Is
difficult to see how any lair
minded man can make oppo-
sition on its merits. And yet when 1t
was originally offered by a leading Re-
publican in the House, Gen. GARFIELD,
the Stalwarts made it so hot for him that
he abandoned it and voted against 1t,
after declaring that he would give 1t his
support as a fair compromise, II no man
OF either party stood by him.
Now, the Stalwarts Of the Senate are
preparing for rousing display OF
Observation-Disclosures" oratory in an
effort to defeat it. The champions Of
linntism and third term have deter
mined that it is a necessity to their cam-
psirn. and 10 enable GRANT TO take
his seat" They are convinced that
they can't get along unless the election
machinery is all in their own hands. Al
though the appointing power would
still be in their own party, for every
Circuit Judge in the United States is
Republican, appointed by some RePub-
hcan President and confirmed by Re
publican senate, yet they are not salts
fed that the Judges would be 50 UNI
sc,upuIous as the marshals have been,
add that they would probably appoint
men who would have character for In
teSrity and tair dealing.
In other words, they wish to perpetu-
ate the scandal Of putting drunkards,
thieves, ruffians, rowdies, desperadoes
and keepers OF bawdy houses in the I'M
portsnt, delicate and responsible posi-
lions Of supervising the balloi'box. That
they have heretofore done this is shown
nv the evidence taken by committee
Of Congress.
This evidence shows that twelve
hundred such election Marshsls were
sppoiuted in New York at the last fed
eral election and 77S in Philadelphis'
And as specimens OF the kind OF men
who were entrusted with this grave re-
spousibi!ity the following extracts irom
the records Of official inquiry viii show
Marshal =, Frst division, Filth
xsrd--Drunk all day; too drunk 70 ar
rest any one. There were hvs po''Cs-