Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-31
9aily gress ana 9akotaian
ABOUT ELECTION FRAUDS.
Democrats Oppose Purity of The Ballot,
While Republicans Work for 1t.


While Republicans Work for 1t.
Gen. Harrison's reference to the efforts
Of the Republican party in behalf of cleo
toral reform in the course of his.speech to
the delegations from three Indiana coun.
ties where ballot box stufing and 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 mo 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
an honest ballot and a 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 years RepubE
iicans 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
tlons held at the same time. When the
Democrats obtained a majority in the
u OF representatives they set them
selves at once to remove the Federal safe.
guards to electoral purity. Being unable
to secure a repeal of the Federal cleo.
ton laws, because they have not since
their enactment controlled the executive
the legislative departments at the
same time, they have contrived to make
those laws imperative by refusing to
make the necessary appropriations to
carry them into effect. At the last con-
gressional election, to use the Democratic
presidents language, the Federal election
laws were allowed to fall into 'innocuous
desuetude." 1t will be the same at the
elections in November.
A like policy has been pursued by the
Democrats In The northern states. Though
some of the better men of the party in
Chicago urged the reform of the electoral
laws of Illinois after the ballot box frauds
herei In 1884 and 1885, the Democratic
members of the legislature steadily op-
posed that reform. The new election law
which has proved such an excellent meas.
ure was the work of Republicans. 1t was
carried into effect despite the opposition
of the law department. of the Democratic
city administration and the Democratic
county judge. who was intrusted
with its administration on non-partisan
grounds. In Indiana the Democrats have
also steadily resisted electoral reform.
Two years ago the Democratic district
attorney, who Is now one of the United
States senators from the state as the re-
suit of the Democratic frauds, failed to
enforce the laws. such as they were,
against the ballot box suffers from whose
operations ho profted and Gen. Har-
rison's audience OF Wednesday suf-
fered. In the New York legislature
this year the Democrats opposed an cleo
.toral reform bill, and when it was passed
by the Republicans, despite Democratic
opposition, 1t was vetoed by the Demo-
cratic governor. And 30 1t has been with
the Democrats in other states. They have
invariably opposed electoral reform.
Find me" said Gen. Harrison, 1.-THE
party that sets the gate of election frauds
open or holds 1t open and / will show you
tho party that expects to drive cattle that
way" aSs3 ai53 go
Turpie, who defended ballot box suffers
In Chicago allowed ballot box suffers in
indianapolis to go scot free when it was
his duty to secure their conviction and
punishment, and who occupies the seat
flched from the Republicans by Demo.
cratic ballot box suffers, will not fail to
appreciate Gen. Harrison's remarks. They
are worthy more than passing attention.
as they f~oreshadowi in the event of Repub-
Hcan success. which now Seems assured,
that the next Republican president will
Insist on the enforcement of the Federal
laws for tho protection of the purity Of
the ballot box, and advise their amend
Inent to Insure that protection.-Chicago
Tribune.