The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-07-30


men who are guarding. supervising
and scrutinizing. their elections.
The new bill requires the super
visors to perform all their duties,
and besides
i. To challenge the right of any
person to be registered, and to .sre-
quirep of the State or local officer
that be do not register the name OF
that he strike off the name of any
person on the register.
This is distinct with
State elections. There is only one
registry list, and if a persons name
is stricken off he is thereby disqual-
ifed from voting for State officers.
The bill, therefore, permits these
Federal officers to forbid citizens OF
these States to vote for their own
lo''al officers. A supervisor can thus
effect even town election.
The supervisors are to have ac=
cess to all books of registration, &C.,
for the purpose of making evidence
for a contest.
8. They are to make house-to-
house canvass of persons registered
in all cities having 10000 inhabi-
tants or upward. They may be ac-
companied by deputy marshals. In
cities of 100000 inhabitants or up
ward they are to make thorough
house-to. house canvass five weeks
before election, In other words,
the local registers are to be given to
Republican campaign workers to
enable them to spy upon people, to
intimidate them as Davenport has
done in New York, and to enable
them to bring their own voters to
the polls. The Republican cam
paign, State and National, is to be
conducted at the expense of the
general government.
4. The supervisors are authorized
to administer the State statutory
oath if the local officers decline, and
to examine persons Offering to vote
as to their qualifications under the
State law.
The bill repeals or annuls all State
laws that are opposed to it.
1t directs the manner in which all
holIOfS SI,,II 10 oo,o4o1 M
pervisors are to take part in the
count. AS there is only one ballot
in this State, Federal officers would
therefore count the votes for the
State, county and town officers.
If ballots for Congressman are
found i'm the wrong box in States
whore there are more boxes than
one, the chairman of the supervisors
shall take charge of them.
The board of canvassers of the
congressional vote is body which
makes the canvass of the United
States. 1t is appointed by the Cir
cult Judge, who is dragged into
party politics by nearly every sec
tion of this bill. The board con-
sists of three, only two of whom are
of the same political party. If their
certificate differs from that of the
State officers their candidate is
seated. If the opposing candidate
appeals it must be to the Circuit
Judge, who is consequently a re-
turning officer. The decision of the
judge is to be conclusive with the
clerk of the House. The arrange
ments for counting in Republicans
are almost perfect.
The appropriations for the pay
ment of all the expenses of this fed
eral interference in State affairs, in
Guiding the pay of chief supervisor,
supervisors and deputy marshals
are made permanent. This is an
ticipatory of the refusal of Dem
ocratic House to appropriate money
for the execution OF the law.
The circuit court is empowered to
compel State boards to rectify al
legged errors in their count. In this
State, again, this would affect the
vote for Governor.
The bill provides for the punish
ment of State officers for violation
of State laws and provides that the
army and deputy marshals shall
keep the peace. This is in direct
contravention of the instructions
given to a United States marshal
by Mr.. Evarts in 1868, when he was
Attorney General of the United
States. A chief supervisor may
also concentrate the deputies and
the troops at any place where he
may allege that he expects breach
of the peace.
Such in brief is the abstract of the
bill by which the Republican party
proposes to assume supreme control