Wichita eagle., 1888-09-02
ABOUT ELECTION Frauds
Deuloc rats Oppose Purity Of Tie Ballot,
While Republicans Work for 1t.

Gen. Harrison's reference to the efforts
of the Republican patty i'll behalf of cleo
tOral reform in the course OF his speech to
the delegations from three Indiana coun-
ties where ballot box stU.nug ard kindred
frauds have been practiced by the Demo
Gratis was appropriate TO the occasion
The Republican party. as Gen. Harrison
said. has always stood for electoral re-
form. and no measure tending to secure
the ballot box against fraud has ever been
opposed by its representatives. Through
federal and state legislation Republicans
have sought in every way to secure an
honest expression of the peoples will
al honest ballot aud fair count. And
wherever the election laws guarantee TO
every voter the full and fair exercise Of
the franchise those laws have been en-
acted by Republicans. For wears Repub-
hcans sought by Federal legislation to
protect the voters Of the south in their
exercise of the franchise at congressional
elections and incidentally at state cleo
tons held al the same time. When the
Democrats obtained a majority il the
house of Representatives they set them
selves at once to remove the Federal safe
guards TO electoral purity. Being unable
ton laws, because they have not since
their enactment controlled the executive
and the legislative depart H1ents ct the
same time, they have cortrlyed to make
those laws imperative by refusing TO
make the necessary appropriations to
carry them into eject At tho last con
gressional election, 10 use the Democratic
presidents language, the Federal election
L. Ill I'll
desuetude." II viii be -S>e same at the
elections in November
A like policy has been pursued by the
Democrats III the northern states. Though
some Of the better men Of the party il
Chicago urged the reform Of the electoral
laws of Illinois after the ballot box frauds
here IN 1884 and 1855, tbs Democratic
members Of the legislature steadily OPP
posed that reform The new election law
which has proved such an excellent meas
ure was the work OF Republican Il was
carried into effect despite the opposition
of the law department OF the Democratic
city administration and the Democratic
county judge. who was intrlsted
with its administration on non partisan
grounds. In Indiana the Democrats have
also steadily resisted electoral reform.
Two years ago the Democrats district
attorney. who IS now one OF the United
States senators from the state as the re-
salt of the Democratic frauds, failed TO
enforce tie laws. such as they were,
against the ballot box suffers from whose
operations he proiited and Gen Ear
r.son's audience OF Wednesday suf-
fsred- In the New YORK legislature
this year the Democrats opposed 81 cleo
toral reform bill, and when i was passed
by tie Republicans, despite Democratic
opposition, il vGs vetoed by the Dsuo-
cratic governor. And 80 it has been With
the Democrats in otLer states They have
Invariably opposed electoral reform.
Find ne," said Gen Harrison, ''tke
party that sets the gate of election frauds
open or holds it open and viii show yea
the party tia. expects 20 drive cattle that
way"
Turtle, who defended halo. box suffers
liz Chicago, allowe3 ballet box suffers II
Indianapolis to 20 scos free whez il was
his duty % secure their cOsIvict551 and
punishment. and .who occupies tie sea.
flcEed from the Repsf6isc2-s by DeEo-
critic ballot bcx suffers, viii net fan %
appreciate Gen Harrison remarks They
ara sorsay more tfan passing attention.
es they foreahaderstn the event OF IepE5-
hcsn success. which nssx seems assured.
that TIE next Republican president VII
insist On the enforcement CT the Federal
laws for the protection CT the purity q
the ballot box. azd advise their amend
lasat TO iI.sare that prsssct Ion -IAicsrg
Ts.hazns