New-York tribune., 1890-08-09
HONEST ELECTIONS NEEDED.


The Senate Committee has reported the
Lodge Election bill with important amend
mcnts. which are believed to obviate many
honest objections to that measure, and yet 70
leave in the provisions upon which It's e'lecuVe-
ness depends. The notifications have beeh
fully described in Washington dispatches.
What was falsely called the Bayonet pro-
vision" of the bill has been omitted, because 1t
il not necessary especially and separately 10
empower the President to employ United states
forces whenever he may find that the Only way
70 execute a United States law. The houSe-to-
house canvass provided for in the House bnl
is stricken out, but the power OF SUPERVISORS
10 take such methods as the circumstances may
rcoI,ife i'm order t. guard against fraud Is not
thereby restricted. Tho provision for drawing
iuries remain, as it stands under existing law,
and Circuit Judges are empowered to appoint
as supervisors, if they deem it neediul, other
nersons than those recommended by the chief
supervisor Yet in the most essential features
il is believed by the Senate Committee that
the bin reported will be found sufficiently ell
fectiye. and that it will protect the people to
great extent against fraudulent elections.
4 practical illustration of the necessity OF
this measure in not a few Northern districts
was given in yesterdays dispatches from Al
bany. IL was there shown how Democratic
frauds had defeated the will Of the people III
the Albany Congressional District, not nj one
election only, but at many. In the rIeSl-
dental election of lSsS more than 600 was
added to the Democratic majority by frauds
which have since been judlcially exposed.
iStr
nv DIR. Swinburne, Republican, III 1884 by
moro than 1000 majority, Democratic iraud
manufactured majOrlteS and returned Coh-
pressmen in 1886 and 1888 the last time by
over 1900 majority. For more than twenty
wears, according TO the testimony OF upr6ht ana
well-known citizens, elections in that district
have been carried by fraud, and in 1876 crimes
were proved before the United states court
sufficient to elect Quinn, the Democrat re-
turned, over Harris, the Republican candidate,
but a Democratic House paid no attention 10
the proof Details OF the many crimes per
petratcd in this district need not now be re-
pcated Ii is only "A year ago III Aprll Whch
the Albany police force was sent out OF the
city 10 Watervliet, and there surrounded a
pollinp- place, drove away Republican inspect
ors cIer,s and watchers, and left Democratic
election officers to fix up fraudulent returns at
their pleasure They were indicted but a
fixed" jury disagreed.
Unless such crimes as these can be checked,
and the votes of honest citizens can be gwen
fnll effect in the government Of this country,
there can be 10 assurance whatever that any
wise National policy will be maintained. The
people want protection Of their industries, but
it will mako no difference how many OF them
vote for it if elections can be carried by stun ed
ballot-boxes and forged returns, as i'll jersey
City or Albany. Congress cannot have before
il any measure which demands more speedy
and serious attention than this, and as soon as
the Senate has finished the Tariff BILL it will
be the duty of that body to put aside every
| other measure or question until 1t can secure
for honest voters some protection against DEM
ocratc frauds.