The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1890-07-02
LIBERTY ASSAII ED.
The Elections Bill an Outrage.
Democratic i.caIers Call Upon the
Peopis. to Speak.


-, fHoNi-
WasA.n4, d.. E.,no - The north
eEn s.r.t,r.&J 4 l-.r4begs Of the |
house OF Representatives. have pre-
parei t.te following formal protest |
ag ;...%, t..e a. iontioaa; election bill |
nJw unlr discussion III the house:
The undersigned, representing
III the congress of the United States
constituencies in the states north of
the Ohio and Potomac rivers, feel
it their duty to their fellow citizens
to briefly call their attention to the
extraordinary, dangerous and revo-
lutionary measure now proposed by
the leaders Of the party i'll power
for passage in the house of repre-
sentatives.
"Uuder q doubtful construction
OF the constitution this bill proposes
to substantially take from the states
and local authorities control of all
elections at which members of
congress are balloted for and
hand the same over to United States
Judges appoined to office for life
and chief supervisors of elections.
''If the power claimed resides in
the constitution, which we deny, the
republic has gone through the Diff
culties Of the formative period,
made heroic struggle against disso'
luton, triumphed and successfully
readjusted itself to changed condi.
tons without the exercise of su ch
power by the federal government
for 100 years and over. MIR. Jefer'
son and the fathers of the republic
would have considered such prop
osition as this as an open attempt
at central1ZatlOn.
FOR vILEsT PARTISAN PURPOSES.
"This bill is a purely partisan
measure intended primarially tc
control the elections for congress
and presidential electors in all tn
} states, and to intimidate, hound, oh
\ struct and harrass by political pros
> ecutions in unfriendly hands the ad
4 verse majorities in the cities of tn
north. To this end it gives to tn
control of the chief supervisor Q
electors a body Of federal polio
spies who are authorized to max
domiciliary visits superintend th
naturalization of foreign born cit
zens, place the citizens under stri.
scrutiny of these trusty and unpril
cipaled federal detectives for da,
preceding and following the ele
tions in every way subject him
the power and control of such part
mercenaries OF the government in
way at utter variance with repub
can institutions and the great pri
ciple of american freedom-hor
rule
Ito carry out this scheme of il
perial government millions Of d.
lars..wll be taxed from our peoE
and the Judiciary OF the Unit
States prostituted to the basest p'
tisanship in Ethe management
elections. And these invasions
- the::liberties Of our people will
left for safety to partisan juries
/ the federal courts, composed enti
| " of the men of the party in pc
er."
l. AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
The constitutional objections
- the bill are set forth at length a
the protest concludes as follows: {
: view of the great danger to ,
rights and liberties of the peo
and to the principle of local self e
4 ernment involved IN this bill, we
= spectfully appeal to American Fl
men without regard to party to
ter timely protest by way of pull
meetings or otherwise against
Consolidation of government the
= tstrnction Of popular rights and
very foundation OF American libel
= we indulge no rhetorical -four