The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-11-14
THE PROPOSED FEDERAL ELECTION
LAW.

deavor to pass law in the next Con-
grsss putting all congressional elections
under national control. The New
York Tribune, in foreshadowing this
movement, has sought to obtain the
views of members elect on this sub
ject. Of ninety three who responded
seventy five declared their approval
of it.
A bill providing for these elections
has been drawn up by Representative
Houk, of Tennessee, and is ready to
be launched as soon as opportunity
offers. 1t may be remembered that
Senator Sherman introduced bill to
the same effect ~ y. last session. MIR.
Houk's bill il drawL up pretty much
On the same lines.
A synopsis OF ii viii give some idea
Of the score of the bill and Of the rad
ical changes it makes in the method
of electing Congressman. 1T provides
for bringing entirely under Federal
Control and supervision all congress
ional elections, and that must include
also all presidential elections and such
State elections as fall coincidently with
the congressional. Under it the Pres
ident is to appoint an electoral board
in each congressional district, the men,
bers to serve for life This board, in
its turn, is to appoint registrar for
each election division, who is to serve
for six years. There are also to be
similarly appointed in each election
three citizens, who shall constitute
the judges of election also to serve for
six years, and finally there are to be
three persons to act as commissioners
in each county in every congressional
district, and to constitute returning
board. The various chairmen of the
electoral boards are to have charge of
the registration, and no challenge
would be permitted against any per-
son on election day whose name ap-
peared on the registration list. 1t is
provided, furthermore, that the judges
of elections shall not be all of the
same party, but if they are, it shall
not invalidate the election"
We can hardly believe such bill,
M sueepinR in the powers it confers
and SO thoroughly centralizing in its
tendencies, will be allowed to become
law, says the San. If it
were allowed the effect of it would be
to take away from the several States
ut one stroke, that power to control
and carry on their own elections which
they have possessed ever since the for
nation of the Union. 1t would be an
invasion of State rights in their truest
and most cherished sense, and an in
vasion that could not be permitted
without entirely changing the rela-
tions of the States to the Union.
The clause of the bill which pre-
scribes that "the judges of elections
shall not be all of one party" is alb
sufd in view of the fact that it is add
ed "but if they are it shall not invali.
date the election The effect of such
law would be to entail and fasten
upon the country a new army of Of
Gceholders, of which the electoral
boards are to serve for life and the
subordinate officers for six years, thus
overlapping the presidential term OF
two years and intended to perpetuate
the rule of the party in power.
Fhat an attempt will be made to
force such a law through Congress
there is no reason to doubt. The
Sherman bill of the last session is an
evidence of it, and the Houk bill OF
the coming session is drawn up on the
same basis. There is greater reason fo1
bringing in the bill at this time than
there has been at any time previous
Phe Republicans have a majority in
the House, and, small as that majority
II, the effect of the recent elections is
20 show that the future domination oil
the party is in doubt, and that if the
thing is to be done it must be done
quickly.
Even if the success of such an at
tempt to put the entire election ma
chinery in the hands of one political
party may be regarded as doubtful
the mere endeavor to bring about 6
revolution in the method of conduct
ing congressional elections by fresh
sncroachments on the rights of the
States is q proof Of the lengths t.
which certain leaders of the Rupubli.
can party are prepared to go to KEEP
control of the government indefinitely
-as Senator Hoar, having probably
some such election law in his mind
intimated in the last number of the
Forum it had the power and the will
70 do.
The crowd at the Charlotte races
vas small. and the High Point Enter.