Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-17
FRAUDS AGAINST SUFFRAGE.

Recomm e ndations for the Creation or.
AN Election Commission.
An attempt was made in the last congress to,
bring to bear the consti; utional powers of the
general government for the correction of frauds
against the suffrage. 1t is important to know
whether the opposition tosuch measures is real
" rested in particular features supposed to be
Objectionable or Includes any proposition to
give to the election laws Of the United States
adequacy to the correction of grave and ac-
knowledged evils. I must yet entertain the hope
that it is possible to secure calm patriotic
consideration ofsuch constit utional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to secure the choice.
OF the officers OF the government to the people
by falr appointments and free elections.
l believe it would be possible to constitute a.
commission, llon-partisan in it's membership
and composed OF patriotic wise and impartial
men, to whom a consideration OF the question:
of the evils connected with our election system.
and methods might be committed with good
prospect OF securing unanimlty i'll some plan for
removing or mitigating those evils. The con-
stitutlOn would permit the selection of the COM
mission to be vested in the supreme court, if
that method would give the best guaranty Of
impartiality.
This commission should be charged with the
duty of inquiring into the whole subject OF the
law OF elections as related to the choice Of of6-
GERS of the ia tionaf government, with a view to
securing to every elector free and unmolested
exercise OF the suffrage and as near an approach
to an equality OF value i'll each ballot cast as is
While the policies OF the general government
upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our
merchant marine, upon river and harDor i'm
provementS and other such matters OF grave and.
general concern are liable to be turned this way
or that by the results of congressional elections.
and administrative policies sometimes involving;
issues that tend to peace Or war to be turned,
this way OF that by the results OF a presidential
election, there is rghtful interest in all the
states and in every congressional district that
will not be deceived orsilenced by the audacious
pretense that the question OF the right OF any
gressional district to give their~suffrages freely
upon these general questions is a matter only of
local concern or control. The demand that the
limitations of suffrage shall be found in
the law and only there, is a just de-
mand, and no just man should resent or
be, for a consultation that shall proceed with,
candor, calnness and patience upon the lines Of
Justice and humanity. not OF prejudice and
cruelty" To the consideration of these very
grave questions invite not only the attention
OF congress. but that Of all patriotic citizens.
people have ceased to regard a tree ballot and
equal representation as the price OF their al
legiance to laws and to civil magistrates.
have been greatly rejolced to notice many
evidences OF the increased unificatiOn of peo-
pie and of a revived national spirit. The vista
than ever before. Qualification and Amusement
struggle for supremacy as. we contemplate the
popula ton, wealth and moral strength of our
country. trust. momentous in its influence
upon our people and upon the world is tor a.
brief time committed to us. and We must not be
free and equal influence of the people in the
choice of public officers and in the control OF
public affairs. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 8, 1891.