The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1889-11-15
The Democrat.


One Of the most radical propositions In
the way Of congressional legislation that
has ever been TO the country since The
dark days sf reconstruction, Il the bin that
Senator John Sherman proposes to intro
duce Into the next congress whereby the
election Of congressman Is 10 be taken out
Of the hands Of the States and placed In
the hands Of clerks, judges, boards and
canvassers appointed directly or Indirect
~ by the president.
This Il the bill which has so frequently
been threatened, and which promises to
be the most important political issne COM
Ing before Congress In December,
The debate Is likely to be long, bitter
and partisan one, aud the democrats will
manage badly, indeed, Il they are not able
to show the country that popular govern
lnent Il threatened by thls measure
There are a great many bIaeksliders In
the republican party already on this issue,
thousands Of voters, particularly In New
England, who belive the proposed meas
ure Is dangerous. A dlscusslon of Il win
soon show them the extent OF this con-
spiraey against popular government. I'm.
der this bin the president Is to appoint
board Of eanvassers In each Stats and an
electoral board OF three members In each
Congressional district. A registrar for
each precinct or election dlstriet ls to be
appointed by the electoral board, which
will also designate the judges of election.
Clerks of election viii be chosen by the
judges. The electoral board Of .he con.
eresslonal district will appoint board Of
eanvassers for each county, city, or Pollti-7
cal division. Every step In the election
OF member OF Congress from the regis.
tralion 10 the final count Is to be under
the supervision of officials created by and
responsible to the national administration,
Summarizing the political machine ~ pro-
vided for In the sherman bill It is as follows;
l.. A board of FIVE State eanvassers In
each State, to be appointed by the Presi.
dent. "by and with the approval OF the
Senate"
q. An electoral board Of three members
In each congressional district, also to be
appointed by the President. with the aP-
proval Of the Senate.
J. A registrar for each precinst or elee-
ton district, to be appointed by the cleo
torAl board of each congressional district.
4. Three judges OF election for each pre-
cinct or electoral district, to be appointed
~ the electoral board of each congress-
ional district.
s. Two clerks of election for each pre-.
einct or election district, to be appointed
By the judges of election therein.
s. A board Of canvaSsers In eash county,
slty, or corresponding political division,
to be designated by the electoral beard
Of each congressional district from among
the judges Of elections.
The Sherman bill would create at one
swsop over 600. 200 new Federal officials
appointed directly or indirectly by the
president and under his control and man
agement-3Io State eanva1sers, ooo mem
bers of district electoral boards, TOO, 600
registrars, 100000 judges of election and
aos.ooo clerks of election orr total of 6Or,-
7eo persons. In no limited monarchy Of
Europe would the King he granted such
power az Sherman proposes to give the
president Its the virtual creation of
Dictatorship. and the rsbublieans them
selves would soon regret their action.