Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-12-04
The Elections Bill.


II any intelligent and loyal company Of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential humane conditions OF National
life, do not doubt that with absolute unan-
unity they would begin with free and hon
est elections" And 1t Is gratifying to know
general desire was a growing and non parti
san demand for better election laws But
against this sign of hope and progress must
be set the depressing and undeniablc fact
that election laws and methods are some
times cunningly cOntrived to secure minor
ity control while violence completes the
shortcomings of fraud. In my last annual
message | suggested that the Developments
OF the existing law providing a Federal SUI
perry vlslon Of Congressional elections offered
an effective method Of reforming these
abuses. The need Of such law has mani
Tested Itself in many parts of the country,
and its wholesome restraints and penalties
will be useful in all. The constitutionalitN
of such legislation has been affirmed by tho
supreme Court.
Its probable effectiveness is evidenced by
the character OF the opposition that is made
10 il. II has been denounced as If it were
new exercise OF Federal power and an inya-
sion of the rights OF the states Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress
has already fixed the time for the election OF
members of Congress. Il has declared that
votes for members OF Congress must be by
written or printed ballot. II has
provided for the appointment by tho
circuit courts ina certain cases, and upon the
petition OF a certain number of citizens Of
election supervisors aud made it their duty
70 supervise the registration of votes CON
ductcd by the state officers to challenge per
sons Offering to register; to personally in
spcct and scrutnizo the registry lists and Ia
afiix their names TO the lists for the purpose
of Identification and the prevention of
frauds TO attend elections and remain with
the boxes till the votes are counted; to at
tach TO the registry lists and election returns
any statement touching the accuracy and
fairness of the registry and elections, and
60 take and transmit 70 the clerk Of the
House OF Representatives any evidence
OF fraudulent practices which may bc pre-
sentcd 20 them. The same law provides for
the appointment of deputy United States
marshals to attend 10 the polls, support the
supervisors in tho discharge Of their duties
and arrest persons violating the election
laws. The provisions of this familiar title of
the revised statutes have been put into eNcr-
else by both the great political parties. and
in the North, as well as n the South, 10y the
dling with the court petitions required by
law. 10 Is not therefore. question whether
VIC shall have a Federal election law, for We
now have one and have had for nearly
twenty years. but whether we shall have
au effective law.
The present law stops just short of effect
ivencss. for 10 surrendcrs 10 the legal au-
thorities all control over tho ccrtincation
which establishes the prima facio right to
seat in the lower house Of representative.
This defect should be cured. Equality of
repre- sontatlon and the purity Of the electors
must Dc maintained OF every thing that is
valuable i'm our system OF government i- lost.
The qualification of clcctor must De sought
n She law. not n the opinions. prciudices OF
fears OF any class, however powerful. The
path ct the elcctor 20 The ballot box must be
d f1rasf
ments Of fraud, the count 30 true
and open that none shall Eaiusay t such
law should BE- absolutely non partisan and
impartial % should give the advantage to
honesty and the control to malorities- surely
there b. nothing sectional about this creed
and 10 it shaii happen that thc penalties Of
laws Intended to enforce these rights fan
here and not there. it is not because abe law
Is sectional but because happily crime iE
local and not universal Nor should t b.
forgotten that every Law. whether re-
lafiug 90 elections or to any other sub
iert whether enacted by she state or
by thc Nation. has force behind the courts.
tie marshal OF constable the posse comita-
tus the prisons are an snd always behind
the law. one can not be justly charged with
uufrieudluess 90 any section or class who
seeks only to restrain Violations of Jaw and
Of personal right No community vii find
lawlessuess profitable. No community ram
afford ~ have 10 krfoun that the officers w DO
are charged with the preservation oi iht
rn1l'c peace and the restraint 90 thc crlmi-
nal class are Themselves the product of iraut