The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-07-24
FEDERAL ELECTION LAW.
WHAT THE BILL UNDERTAKES
TO DO--ITS PROVISIONS.

WHAT THE BILL UNDERTAKES |
TO DO--ITS PROVISIONS.
II is the Most Dangerous Capitalization
OF Power--The Most Dangerous Foe
10 the Freedom Of ElectiOns--The
Most Desperate Attempt by Desperate
Men To Continue in Power by PrOsti-
tuting the Judiciary This Country
Ever Witnessed.
After the war we had military dis
trigts in the South. There were no real
State lines. The States had no rights.
The votes that were cast in North Caro-
liza were carried to South Carolina by
Federal soldiers who declared the result
to be what suited their purposes. The
Union League menaced the property,
the lives, the purity of the white men
and women in the South. The Ku Klux
Klan was the result, and its excesses hor-
riied all good citizens.
Then the soldiers were withdrawn.
Then the Union League collapsed. Then
the Ku Klux Klan disbanded. Then the
white men Of the South took control of
the government. Schools were opened
for the whites and blacks. Peace pre-
vailed. Prosperity smiled upon us. The
races have come to live together In peace
and concord. Here we hear not dis
cordaut note to break the fraternal re-
gard Of the two races in the South, ex-
cept an occasional violation OF law
which is seen the world over.
But now comes REED, DUDLEY u Co.,
who have determined to control the
country, and declare that this state of
affairs cannot longer continue. They
see that they are loosing ground IN the
North. The Republican party had mi
nority of the vote of the people at the
last election. They propose. by the
passage of the Federal Election Law, to
do their town registrations, their "own
counting" and attend their 'own certif
ication." That is the programme, and
for purely partizan purposes they now
propose to plunge the South into new
reconstruction period with all the hor
rors of that period.
What is it that they propose? The
CHRONICLE is not big enough to publlsf
the Infamous bill which fills big book
It denies to the State the right to de
termine the qualification of voters, ano
transfers that power to "heeler O
the Republican faith. The Chief Super
visor of each judicial district is to be ap
pointed for life, and his chief requisite
will be willingness to DO anything L
secure Republican success. Inc 0es
evidence of the partizan intent OF tn
bill is that if it passes 1t Will go into ell
feet at the elections in November OF tnl
year. This is an admission that In n
other way can the Republicans contrt
the next House.
Under the law the Chief SUPERVISE
who is to be appointed by FEEDER;
Judge, is to have great power. he Is
have charge of the Federal officers WI
will control elections. He Is to examlr
voters under oath, and receive the r
turns. He will have power to order
rests. The bill declares that he sha
have power at elections at which he
resentatives or delegates in Congress
voted for" If, as in North Caroln
State officers are elected at the san
time as congressman, these supervise
would have power to control State ee
tions. In fact, such power is his, for
is the Judge of who can vote. We ha
but one registration book. de can strl
off any name, or add any name to t
registration book that he decides oug
to be on the book.
There are to be three of these sup
wisors at every polling place, two
whom shall be of the same polite
party, and they are to control the ell
iion. This means, not that two sh
be Republicans and one Democrat. \
at all. But two Republicans and one
SOME OTHER PARTY. There are doz
or more so.caled parties, and
Judge would appoint in many
stances from some hulk OF pa
a man who is at heart Repnt
can, and these three would proceed
do their own voting, counting, and G
tifcation. They would initiate SPEAE
REED and count quorum" OF Rep
licans whether there were enough
lots in the boxes or not. There is
way to secure fair election by 81
partizan agents, and there is no way
separate the State and Federal electl
where they are held on the same q
1t Is direct usurpation of power. {
there is no warraat in the Constltut
for it. If Congress can pass this
giving Federal officers the right to c
troll elections for members of the DO
or representatives, tneu III eau pas
law giving them the right to control
election of members of the State LIE
lature, for they elect U. S. Senators
one is right If one is lawful-both n
be.
Supervisors may be appointed on
request to the chief supervisor OF
persons in any city or town having
600 inhabitants or upward, or IN any
tire Congressional district, no par
which is within any city or town OF
600 inhabitants and upward, or on
request of fifty persons 'in any on
more counties or parishes in any I
gressonal district"
The New Rork World, in an adm
BILE review of the bill, says
in a Congressional district conslstin
half dozen counties, two Republ
and four Democratic, the polls in
two Democratic counties could be
ned by Republican supervisors, who
not be residents of the counties,
might be brought from distant
of the district. In the other cour
the machinery of elections would {