The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
Free and Honest Elections tho Fret Es.
sontial Of National Life


II any intelligent and loyal company OF Amer.
lean citizens were required to catalogue the Is.
sential conditions OF national life, l do not
doubt that with absolute unanimity they would
begin with Free and honest elections" And it
Is srasliyins to know that generally there is
growing and non-partisan demand Tor better
election laws. But against Inns sign OF hope and
progress must be vet the depressing aud undeli.
sometimes cunningly conirived to secure minor.
ity control. while violence completes the short
comings OF fraud.
III my last annual message suggested that
the development, Of the existing LAW providing y
federal supervision OF congressional elections Of
Tered an effective method OF reforming these
| itself i'll many parts OF the country and Its
wholesome restraints and penalties will be use.
iul in all The eons,isntiolality Of such leyisls-
! court. lts probable effectiveness is cvi.
denced by the character OF the opposition
that is made to 1t. 1t has been denounced MS Il
t were new exercise Of federal power and an
invasion OF the rights OF the states. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress has
members OF congress must be By written or
printed ballot; II has provided for the appoint
ment. BY the circuit courts In certain cases and
upon the petition OF u certain number OF citi.
zens, OF election supervisors, and made it their
duty to supervise the registration Of voters con.
sons offering to register; to personally Inspect
and scrutnze tn. registry lists. and to afix
their names to the lists for the purpose OF identi-
ficat:on and the prevention OF frauds; to attend
ut elections. and remain with the boxes TIL the
votes are all cast and counted to attach to the
registry lists and election returns any state.
OF! the registry and election, and to
take and transmit to the clerk OF the
h"n.e 81 representatives any evidence
10 .:.rm. The same law provides for the ap.
poiEtm-nt Of deputy United States marshais 10
attend 1T the polls. support the supervisors In
the discharge OF their duties and to arrest per.
sons violating the election laws. The provls.
ions OF this familiar portion Of the Revised
the Grent political parties in the North as we'll
as i'll the South by the filing with the court the
petitions required by law.
One cannot be justly charged with ,,niriendli.
ness TO any section or class who seeks only to
right. No community viii find iawlessn.ss
profitable. No community can AFFORD to have
1t known that the officers who are CHARGED with
the preservation OF the public peace and the re.
strant OF the criminal classes are themselves
trate Is then without respect and the law with.
out sanction. The foods OF lawlessness cannot
be leveled and made to run In one channel The
killing Of a United States marshal carrying A
writ OF arrest Tor an election offense Ii full OF
p.omptings and suggestion to men who are pur.
sued by n city marshal for crime agniust life
or property
venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining ios The consideration OF the i'm.
portant legislation how awaiting your attention
offers 10 margin 70. waste. II the present duty
Is DISCHARGED with dgence, fidelity and courage
fidently submitted to the considerate Judgment
OF the people.
Executive mansion, Dec. ]. 1890. 4
BESJAKlN HARRISON.