The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-18
Johnny DavAnnort's Bill.


The republicans have their federal cleo
ton bill in a shape that is satisfactory to
them, and it has been approved by their
House caucus. Representative Crisp. who
has looked over it very carefully, says that
it Is largely the work of Johnny Davenport.
And who is Johnny Davenportg The whole
country knows that he is an INSCRIPTIONS
republican politician of New York city.
He has won unenviable notoriety in connec-
ton with federal politics in that city. He
has the reputation of being willing
to adopt any means, however unfair
and outrageous they may be, to accomplish
his purposes. This is the man whom the
republican leaders called to their aid to
frame a measure intended TO enable the
Republican party to retain control of the
government. They doubted their own
ability to do the kind of work they wanted
done. and therefore they made u:e of the
talents and experience of one who has for
years been an active worker in that kind of
partisan politics which high-minded and
honorable men avoid.
That the bill is expected to be operative
only in the south there is not the least
doubt. In no county or congressional dis
trict in a northern state would it be possible
to get the number of voters provided for
in the bill to make application to have the
law enforced. 1t would not be difficult
in the south. however, for the paid
agents of the Republican party to get one
hundred ignorant black voters in con-
gressional district, or fifty in county, TO
sign a petition to make the law operative
in that district or county. In the north
neither party would care to have the law
made operative. The republican leaders
would see to 1t that it was made operative
in all congressional districts in the south in
which they thought they had the least
chance, by fair means or foul of electing
republican congressman.
The bill is a lengthy one, and its meaning
is so obscure in many parts that few would
be able to interpret it correctly. The con-
sequence would be that mistakes of all
kinds would occur, and these mist axes
would be made the ground for contests
which the republicans, if they should sue
coed in carrying out their programme,
would decide OF course, they would decide
them in their own favor. They have never
failed to render partisan decisions in con
tested election cases, and they would not
be likely to render any other kind of decis-
ions in contests arising under the proposed
law.
The proposed law would require an i'm
mense number of officials to carry into
effect its provisions, and they would be
republican officials. They would be agents
of the Republican party and their aim
would be not to enforce the law fairly, but
so as to benefit their party. They would
take advantage of every technicality and
mistake, and, having control of ths election
machinery. they would be able to bring
about almost any result that they might
desire
The bill provides many penalties for VIC
lations of the law-violations which in
many instances would be likely to be due
to ignorance-and arrests for such violations
would be certain to produce bad feeling,
and perhaps disturbances of a more or less
serious character. 1t is safe to predict that
the law would be productive of very I'M
happy condition of affairs in every district
in the south in which it should be made
operative. The people would be afraid to
go to the polls, and they would not like to
lose their votes. They would hardly know
what course to pursue, and in that state of
affairs, it is easy to see, there would be good
reason for fearing trouble of a deplorable
character.
The whole aim of the Republican party
in this matter is power. 1t is ready to dis
turb the material interests and check the
progress of great section of the country
in order to accomplish its purpose. There
is some ground for hoping that its scheme
will be defeated. Speaker Reed will be abs
to pass the obnoxious bill through the
House, but there is chance that it will be
defeated in the Senate. The rules of the
Senate admit of unlimited debate, and the
democratic senators will spare no effort to
prevent it from becoming a law.