Fergus County argus., 1890-12-11


for this method of transmission. recon-
mend that such legislation be enacted az
will enable the postoiiice department fairly
to test by experime- the advantages of
such use of the telegraph.
FEDERAL ELECTION LAW,
Its Passage Again Urged ON Congress by
the President.
| Ii any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to cata-
| logue the essential human conditions of ma
tional life. do not doubt that, with abso-
lutte unanimity they would begin with free
and honest elections and it ~ gratifying
| to know that generally there is n growing
and non partisan demand for better cleo
tion laws. But against this sign Of hope
and progress must be set the depressing
and undeniable fact that e!ecti ON laws and
methods are sometimes cunninoiy contrived
to insure minority control. while violence
completes the shortcoming of fraud. In
my last annual message | suggested that
the application of the existing law provid-
ing Il federal supervision of congressional
elections offered an effective method of re
forming these abuses. The need
of such law has manifested
itself in many parts of the country and i'r
wholesome restraints and penalties will be
useful. The constitutionaiity of such leg
islation has been affirmed by the supreme
court. its probable effectiveness is
evidenced by the character of the op!N,si-
ton that IL made OF 1t. IL has been de-
nounced AS II 1t were new exercise OF
federal power, ana an INVASION OF the
rights Of the states. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Congress has al
ready hxed the time for the election of
members of congress. IL has declared that
the vote for members Of congress must be
ny written or printed ballot. II has pro-
vived for the appointment, by the circuit
courts III certain cases and uoon the petit
trn OF certain number OF citizens. of
election supervisors ana made 1t their duty
to supervise the registration of voters con-
ducted by the state officers; To challenge
persons Offering to register, to personally
inspect and scrutinize tine regis
Try lists, and to afhx their
names 20 the lists Tor the purpose of ldenti
ncati"n ana the prevention of frauds; TO at
tend at elections ana remain with tho
boxes until the votes are all cast and
counted; to attach To the registry lists and
election returns any statement touching
the accuracy ana fairness OF the registry
and elections: to take and transmit to the
clerk OK the house OF representatives any
evidence of fraudulent practice winch may
be presented to them. The same law pro.
vides for the appointment OF deputy United
States narshals to attend at tn. polls, sup
port the supervisors IN tue discharge OF
tnen duties ana 10 arrest persons violating
the election laws. The provisions Of this
been put INTO exercise by both the great
political parties, and III the north as well as
III the so TN by the ming with the court OF
the pethioiis required py law.
IL Is not. therefore, a question whether
We shaii nave ieuefai electloh law, Tor We
now nave on ana have had for nearly
twenty years, but whether we shall have an
enectiVe law. Inc present law stops Just
snort Oh effectiveness, Tor u surrenders TO
the Local authorities all control over the
facis right to seat IN the house OF repre-
sentatives. 1his defect should be cured.
Equaiity OF representation ana the purity
oil the elections must be maintained or
everything that Is valuable IN your system
OF government - lost. lhe quallncatlons
of an eiector must be sought in the law.
not IN the opinions, pieludices or Tears oil
any Grass, however po"ertul. Inc pain OF
the eiector to the ballot box must be Tree
from u G ambush of rear ana the entice-
mefit OF Ifauu; ine count so true anu open
tnat none snail Hainsav II. Such q law
should DE absolutely non-partisan ana I'M
partiai. IL should give the advantage To
honesty ana the control to ma!orities.
nureiy there Is hothihg sectiohai ABOUT
TINS creed, anu II IL snail happen that the
penalties OF laws intended to enforce these
rights iaii mere ana not there, IL Is not De-
cause the law - sectional. but because, nap
piiy, crime Is Local anu not universal. NOE
snouiu IL DE Ioteotteii tnat every law
"no'".i .'io,"s w S'e'o"s " " "y o'"-
er subject, whether enacted by the state or
by the nation, mas force behind II; the
courts, the marshal or constable, the posse
comitatus, the prison, are all ana always
behind the law. one cannot be justly
charged with unfriendiiness To any section
or class who seeks only To restrain violation
of law ana oi personal right. Nocommuii-
ity Will nnd iawie-sness prohtaDle. NO
community can ahoru 10 nave IL known
thaf the oiiicers that are charged with the
preservation OF the public peace ana the
restraint Oh the criminal class are them
selves tine prouuct OF Iiaud or violence. Inc
magistrate IL thcii without respect ana the
law without sanction. he Hoods OF law
iessness cannot be leveed ana made TO run
IN one channel.
Ihe Killing of United States marshal
carrying writ OF arrest Tor an election