Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-16
EVILS OF The ELECTION system,
appointment Urged of Commission &c
Make Needed Changes.

Appointment Urged of Commission to
Make Needed Changes.
An attempt was made in the last Congress to
bring to bear the constitutional powers of the
general government for the correction of frauds
against the suffrage. 1t is important to know
whether the opposition to such measures is real
ly rested in particular features supposed to be
Objectionable or includes any proposition to
give to the election laws of the United
States adequacy 10 the correction of
grave and acknowledged evils must yet en-
terrain the hope that il is possible to secure
tional or statutory changes as may be necessary
to secure the choice of the officers of the govern
ment to the people by fair appointments and
free elections. l believe it would be possible
mem bership and composed of patriotic wise
and impartial men, to whom consideration of
the question of the evils connected with our
election system and methods might be commit
ted with a good prospect of securing unan-
unity in some plan, for removing or
mitigating those evils. The constitution would
permit the selection of the commission to be
vested in the supreme court, if tina: meth cd
would give the best guaranty of impartiality.
This commission should be charged with the
duty of inquirlng into the whole subject of the
law of elections as related to the choice of Of
fcers of the national government. with view
to securing to every elector free and unmo-
Tested exercise Of the suffrage and near an
approach to an equality of value in each bal
lot cast as is attainable
upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our mer-
chant marine. upon river and harbor improve
m6ntS, and other Such matters or grave ana
general concern are liable to be turned this
way or that by the results of presidential cleo
ton, there is rightful interest in all the states
and in every congressional district that will
not be deceived or silenced by the audacious
pretense that the question of the right of any
body of legal voters in any state in
any congressional district to give their suf-
frages freely upon these general questions is q
matter only of local concern. or control. The
demand that the limitations of suffrage shall
be found in the law and only there, is just
demand and no just man should resent or re-
Sist it. My appeal is, and must continue to be.
for a consultation that shall proceed with
candor, calmneSS 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. We
must not entertain the deluSiOn that our people
have ceased 10 regard free ballot and equal
representation as the price of their allegiance
to laws and to civil magistrates.
/ have been greatly rejoiced to notice many
evidences OF the increased unifcation of our
people and of revived national spirit. The
vista that opens us wider and more
glorious than ever before. Qualification and
amazemenI struggle for supremacy as we con-
template the population, wealth, and moral
GUS in its influence upon people and
upon the world is for brief time COM
united TO US, and we must not be faithless
to its first condition-the defense ofthe 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 9. 1891