The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-09-07
ABOUT ELECTION FRAUDS.
Democrats oppose Purity Of the Ballot.
while Republicans Work for It

Democrats Oppose Purity Of the Ballot.
While Republicans Work for It q
Gen. Harrisons reference to the efforts
Of the Republican party In behalf Of cleo
toral reform In the course of bis speech to
the delegations from three Indiana coun.
ties where ballot box stuffing 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 Repub-
licans sought by Federal legislation to
protect the voters of the south in their
exercise OF the franchise at congressional
elections and incidentally at state elec-
tions held at the same time. When the
Democrats obtained majority In tho
house Of representatives they set them
selves at once to remove the Federal safe
guards to electoral purity Being unable
to secure repeal of the Federal elec-
ton laws, because they have not since
their enactment controlled the executive
and the legislative departments ut the
same time, they have contrived to make
those laws imperative by refusing to
mako 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 "inhocuous
desuetude." 1t will be the Same at the
elections in November.
like policy has been pursued by the
Democrats in the northern states. Though
some of the better men of the party In
Chicago urged tho reform of the electoral
laws of Illinois after the ballot box frauds
hero In 1884 and 1885, the Democratic
members of the legislature steadily OPP
posed that reform. The new election law
which has proved such an excellent meas
urc 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 senator's 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 he 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 1t was passed
by the Republicans, despite Democratic
opposition, it was vetoed by the Demo-
cratic governor. And so it has been with
the Democrats in other states. They havo
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"
Turpie, who defended ballot box suffers
In Chicago. allowed ballot box suffers in
Indianapolis to go scot free when 1t was
his duty to secure their conviction and
punishment, and who occupies the seat
hlched from the Republicans by Demo
cratic ballot box suffers, will not fail to
appreciate Gen. Harrisons remarks. They
arc worthy more than passing attention.
as they foreshadow in the event of Repub-
lican success, which now seems assured,
that the next Republican president will
insist on tho enforcement of tho Federal
laws for tho protection of the purity Of
tho ballot box, and advise their amend
ment to insure that protection. Chicago
Tribune.