The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-02
GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1880.
THE VEN II Bill.

Congress may be occupied this week
chiefly with the Lodge bill to place con-
gressional elections under federal CON
troll. The scheme is aimed directly at
the south, but it admits of general appli-
cation. In brief, the bill renders it com
pulsory for the United States judges to APP
point supervisors for each congressional
district as well as a state board of three
canvassers The machinery Is thus pro.
vided for a system of imperial control,
like that under which Napolean Ill Sc
cured submissive majorities in the French
legislature. The proposed system Is so
un-American and dangerous that it is OBJ
noxious even to James G. Blaine who ap-
proved the measures which provoked, in
part, the Liberal republican movement
in 1872.
Northern democratic congressman have
signed a formal protest against this bill.
In this noteworthy document they say:
"The undersigned, representing in the
congress of the United States constituent
SiCo LII UAC obubCS vi tAC ouIO dLu
Potomac rivers, feel it their duty to their
tirn to the extraordinary, dangerous and
the leaders of the party in power for pass
age in the house of representatives.
"Under a doubtful construction of the
constitution, this bill proposes to sub
stantially 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 appointed to Office for life,
and chief supervisors of elections.
"If the power claimed resides in the
constitution, which we deny, the repub.
lie has gone through the difficulties of
the formative period, made heroic strug-
giles against dissolution, triumphed and
successfully r%eadjusted itself to changed
conditions without the exercise of such
power by the federal government for 100
years and over. Mr.. Jefferson and the
fathers of the republic would have con
sldered such a proposition as this as an
open attempt at Capitalization.
"Thi tlll is a purely partisan measure, |
Intended primarily to control the elections |
for congress and presidential electors in
III, the states and to lntimidate, hound,
obstruct and harrass, by political prose
cutlons in unfriendly hands, the adverse
majorities in the cities of the north. To
this end it gives to the control of the
chief supervisor of elections, a body of
federal police spies, who are authorized
to make domiclliary visits, s%uperintend
the naturalization of our foreign-b born
citizens, place the citizens under strict
scrutiny of the trusty and u%nprincipled
federal detectives for days, both proceed
ing and following an election, and in ev.
cry way subjec, him to the power and con-
troll OF paid party ~mercenaries of the gov
in a way at utter variance with
republican institutions and the great prin.
ciple OF American freedom home rule,
$40 carry on this scheme of imperial
government millions of dollars will be
from our people, and the judiciary
OF the United States prostituted to the
basest partisanship in the management
elections. And these invasions of the
Liberties of our people will be left for
safety to partisan juries in the federal
composed entirely of the men of
The party in power" :
The constitutional objections to the {
bill are set forth at length and the pro- !
conclutes us lOllOWS: I
"ln view of the great danger to the {
lights and liberties of the people and to ]
principle OF local self-government in. 6
'olved In this bill, we respectfully appeal
o American free men without regard to {
oarty to enter timely protest by way of s
public meeting or otherwise against this c
consolidation of government, the de- =
of popular rights, and the very =
oundation of American liberty, for we !
indulge in no mere rhetorical flourish a
Vhen We solemnly affirm on our LOYALTY t.
citizens and on our honor as represent
atlves, that this vicious and unpatriotic
MEASURE is a most serious menace to the
cry life of the republic. il
"Ihe issue is, shall a political party a
lect itself and keep In power by paid :
gents who are to control the political 5
lections in all the states?" C
The signatures include those of VIM. S, IL
lolman, G. r. Buckalew, VIM. nj. Spring t.
r, VIM. McAdoo, Amos j. Cummings, G
Y. +. Wilcox, James Kerr, Samuel Fow- h
n, William Parrett, j. Chapman, Benja. h
lin shiveley, c. A. Mcclellan, J.. B. 81
rown, j. W. Covert, A. N. Martin, G. H. re
.ansur, d. r. Drummer, j. r. Willims, |
I'm. Mutchler, Richard Vaux, Lew p
aish, Joseph fl. O'Neil (Massachusetts).
f. Andrew, Charles H. Turner New
ork), VIM. Stahlnecker, John Tarsney, h
A. Gelssenhainer, r. p. Flower, VIM. A
Bynum, Elijah V. Brookshire. IL
This protest should be read and needed II
the American people, irrespective of :"
Irty lines. The northern members have
TED in this instance, separately from
oss OF the south, so that no pretext may b
given for the sectional cry, ii
HI