The Indianapolis journal., 1889-01-28
SHERMAN'S ELECTION PIT,
1t Will Bring About a New and Inn.
tant Application of the Constjtut;apV V'-
And Even Render ItPossible for yo,..
Their Ballots and Have Them co...as
in Spite of Southern BulldOzers a
w. WIS Washington Letter in CHICAGO -,

reopie VINO slI III the galleries of !.
House and Senate all through the aas ~ as
Congress are likely to hear a debata ihs sas
will remind them of the days of reco,'a "a'ca
ton, if not of Missouri comprom;sa
next Congress has important work ihs
but none more important than tba 10
Grafton and passage of the elsaas
bill recently proposed by Senator s.'
man. This is measure % h
may be counted upon to draw the firs -
the Southern and Bourbon batteries ;nr
gress 1t would be difficult to ;u.,.;n on'
public measure of greater importou
interest than this, for it wilt make
application of the Constitution, utterls -
stroy the possibility of there being a nv No
cratic majority in the House of Repra,...
tives as long as parties retain their nrass-r
alignments, and thrust upon public 80
ton a discussion in which all sect;eN",
party and race questions known 10 =
press and platform of the country Will
involved.
When Senator Sherman introducea a..
bill, a fortnight ago. he stated that bs a;s
so by request, and on account of this s,,,s
ment many persons concluded it was No,
measure that would be pushed, and tb,t;.
would be soon forgotten. The fact ;s,t..
Senator Sherman himself is largely resno-
sible for this bill, to which he has c,r..
much time and labor, and it was introdnoss
in that manner because he wished IN a.,
the pulse of the country upon propostor
so radical as this before proceedinp mos.
seriously. ''o
Senator Sherman was certainly in ear,
est when he sat in his library might =,
two ago talking of this bill, of its vast I'M
portance in every way, aHd of the 6ercs
struggle which was sure TO come before l.
could be passed in Congress The Senate
impressed his visitor as a man of immsnss
vitality, both mental and physical. not
withstanding his years and his labors. IA
appears to be growing more gentle as he
advances in years. When a visitor Is is .D' nc
nounced he drops his work upon the librarr
table, walks half way across the room
smiling cordially and extending his hand
No manners could besweeter than his Ts
impreSseS one. too, as man who has ar
last abandoned his ambition to be Presi'
dent, and who has been able to do so with
out souring of temper. 1t is apparent that
Senator Shermans present ambition ia Ia
spend the renal inder of his active davs in
the Senate, and there to champion to suc-
cess some great measures TO add TO his fame
During the conversation he remarked:
81 do not concern my self about the Cab
net. My place In public life, so long as Il
remain in the public service, is now fixed.
have no advice TO give General Harrison
and want him, so far as am concerned. 70
be let alone to do what he thinks best in
full confidence that he will select good
counselors and give us wise and strong
administration. am more interested IN
two or three public measures, among them
the elec tion bill which introduced short
time ago, than in the coming Cabinet
Then You intent to push that billi'
Il do indeed. feel deeply concerning it.
1t is the duty of the Republican party to
improve this opportunity, with possession
of both branches of Congress and the Pres
ident, to wipe out the disgrace of manner
in which elections are carried on In the
South. Popular government is in scme de-
gree failure so long as there are several
States in the Union and thirty or more con-
gressional districts In which elections for
farces. Happily, so far as members
of Congress are concerned, there
is authority for correction of
these abuses by the federal hand in the
Constitution. Unfortunately, there is no
authority in the Constitution by. which We
can correct these abuses in so far as they
affect elections for President. 1t is just as
plain that the control cf Congressional
elections is by the Constitution vested in
the federal Congress as it is that the man
ner of the choosing of presidential electors
is entirely within control of the States
The States may select their electors IN
such manner as the Legislatures thereof
may Direct by vote of the people, by the
Legislature, by appointment of the Gov
ernOr, by q minority vote, or In any otner
way. The rights of the States cannot be
interfered with in this except by amend.
ment of the Constitution; but as to the
/ election of Representatives In Congress
Sec. of Art. of the Constitution pro,
vides that the times, places and mannerol
holding elections for Senators and kepre
| sentatives shall be prescribed In each STATE
by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
| may at any time by law make or alter sucn
regulations, except as to the places OF choos-
| ing Senator's
1--WE here find in the Constitution con con-
| tinued the Senator, "a federal power wncI ticl
has never been fully used. The bill wnlcn
/ have introduced proposes TO take tnls
power, and, through it, insure the lntegrWlH W
| of elections for Congressman. and the Iignl
| of voters to cast and have counted tne.
| ballots for Representatives In every dlslnc'
| in the Union, North and South. L ppPoss
| divorcing State and local elections livI oali
| national, and bringing the latter dileSltH Tt
and completely under federal control. ihs hs
| bill provides that Congressman snan s;s. ~
L
| ferent ticket from State or local omc,at- >
1t is true that legislatures might nA tnc
local elections on the day set for na,lehhs. ne
| elections, but it is not likely ina. .n,' :
would be done, as it would requligT grs .
change of statutes and constitution. In, Inv
bill has been carefully drawn 10 PTousr Preeusr
frauds and to insure the safe ana plnops. pn,pp.s
conduct of elections. In each s's's :
the President is to appoint ps;st,
| board of State canvassers, conss,.a ~
ing of five persons, to pla
Office during good behavior. de also ,c1s Sf
| points an electoral board of three Pelsos, n
in each congressional district, ana .n.1r rrs-
turn appoint in each voting place OF Ia. Rae
cinct a registrar and three judges OIL aue o'
tion, the Judges not TO be all OF the srss ssw
| political party. The registrar ana juusI tSs
hold Office for six years. 1t is mhuc rro-
| duty of the Secretary of the Interior toPs
vide books and blanks for the regiss%t regrsssnt
who must register all voters who md
themselves and take the proper oatns ,sast
offer proper proofs of citizenship q! #
ten days before the elections Lis iss,sc.
names are to be publicly posted 1ol OIL, nsrsr NAV
| tiOn, and persons denied reglstraton. - az
appeal to the judges. Any i've vo.Sh.s believe is
post names of persons whom tney "a a. and
| to have been improperly reglsterte.e;,, t.;,,ouy
the registrar is required TO hear tes'ies'',fhs ~ fhs
| in support of these objections, anu, - .,ores
| objections be found good, strike tne tn"r n~ Is
| of the voters from the lists. NO peiss.arad
/ to be allowed to vote who is not res Cor the
Provision is made for challenges. S IGr t for
taking of oaths and affirmations, anu The
the conduct of the elections down
smallest detail. - ;ude-
IAN important provision, in my ,yover sSrttc 70
ment, is the one giving registrars Psggotbins
| preserve order at the polls, anu "A states
marshals while in the discharge Of Q. made made
dnties. Returns of elections are 70 ss siopsl