Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-12-05
the issues pending, there appears not to
He better combination than Blaine and
Alger for the next campaign.
THE FEDERAL ELECTION BILL.
PRESIDENT HARRISON, in his message,
as follows to the federal election

l. u n4s4s1oOAS III u1S A066dSo,
refers as follows to the federal election
bill now pending in congress:
If any intelliaent aud loyal company OF
American citizens were required 10 cata.
lOgue the essential human condition of ma.
tional life. | do not doubt that with abso.
lutte unanimity they would begin with free
and honest election" And it is gratifying
to know that generally there is a growing
ton laws. But against this sign of hope
and progress must be set the depressing
and %undeniable fact that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunningly con
triyed to secure minority control, while
violence completes the SHORTCOMINGS of
fraud.
In my last annual message T. suggested
that the development of the existing law,
providing a federal supervision nf congress.
Sional elections, offered an effective method
OF reforming these abuses. The need of
such a law has manifested itself in many
parts of the country, and its wholesome re-
straints will be useful in all. The consti-
nationality OF such legislation has been af-
tirmed by the supreme court. Its probable
effectiveness is evident by the character of
the opposition that is made to it. 1t has
been denounced as if it were a new exer-
else of federal power and an invasion of
the rights of the states. Nothing could be
further from the truth. 7 Congress has al
ready fixed the time for the election of the
members of congress-. 1t has declared that
votes for members of congress must be by
written or printed ballot; it has provided
for the appointment by the circuit courts in
certain cases, and upon the petition of a Ger
tain number OF citizens, OF election super
visors, and made it their duty to supervise
the registration of voters conducted by the
state officers; to challenge persons offering
to register; to personally inspect and
%scrutiniZe the registry lists, and to atix
their names to the lists for the purpose of
Identification and the prevention of frauds:
to attend at elections and remain with the
boxes till the votes are all cast and count
ed; to attach to the registry lists and
election returns any statement touching
the accuracy and fairness OF the registry
and election, and to take and transmit to
the clerk OF the house of representatives
any evidence OF fraudulent practices which
may be presented to them. The same law
provides for the appointment of deputy
United States marshals to attend at the
polls, support the supervisors in the dis.
charge OF their duties. and to arrest per
sons violating the election laws. 1t is not
therefore a question whether We snail have
a federal election law, for we now hav e
one, and have had for nearly twenty years.
but whether we shall have an effective law.
The present law stops just short OF eff
f~ectlveneSs, Tor it SurrenderS to the local
authorities all control over the certifica-
ton which establishes the prima facie
right to a seat in the house of representa-.
tiveS, This defect should be cured.
Equality of representation and the purity
OF the electors must be maintained, or
everything that is valuable in our system
Of government is lost. The qualifications
OF an elector must be sought in the law.
in The opinions, p%rejudices or fears of
any class, however powerful. The path of
the elector to the ballot box must be free
from the ambush OF fear and the entice-
ments OF fraud, a count so true and open
thot none can gainsay it. Such a law
should be absolutely non-partisan and i'm
partial. 1t should give the advantage to
honesty and the control to majorities.
Surely there is nothing sectional about
his creed, but ii it shall happen that the
penalties OF laws intended to enforce these
rights fall here and not there, it is not be-
cause the law is sectional, but because,
happily, crime is local and not
universal. Nor should it BIZ forgotten that
every law, whether relating to elections or
to any other subject, whether enacted bv
the state or by tine nation, has force behind
1t; the courts, the marshal or constable, the
posse comltatuS, the prison are always be-
hind the law. One cannot be justly charged
Will uni lcilullleSS W any SecllOn or class
who seeks only to restrain violations of
law and of personal right. No community
will find lawlessness profitable. No COM
munity can afford to have it known that
the Offices who are charged with the pre-.
%servation of the public peace and the re.
Stralnt OF the criminal classes are them
selves the product of fraud or violence.
Tie magistrate is then without respect and
the law without sanction. The fouds of
laWleSsneSS cannot be leveed and run in
II channel. The killing of a United
States marshal carrying a writ of arrest
Tor an election otfensc is full OF prompting
and suggestion to men who are pursued by
a city marshal for a crime against life or
property. But it is said that this legislation
will revive race animOSities, and some have
even suggested that when the peaceful
methods OF fraud are made impossible they
may be supplanted by intimidation and
violence. II the proposed law gives to any
qualified elector, by a hairs weight, more
than his equal influence, or detracts by SO
much from any other qualified elector, it is
fatally lmpeached. But if the law is equal
and the animOsities it is to evoke grow out
OF the fact that some electors have been ac-
customed to exercise the franchise for
others as well as for themselves. then these
animosities ought not to be confessed with
out shame, and cannot be given any weight
in the discussion without dishonor. Nc
choice is left to me but to enforce with
Vlgor all laws intended to secure to the
citizen his constitutional rights, and tc
recommend that the inadequacies of such
laws be promptly remedied.
The Minneapolis Tribune in speaking