Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-06
TROOPS AT THE POLLS.
General schofield, Acting War Secretary.
on Their Possible Use There.


WASHINGTON, d. c.. November 5.-As-
ipgton this afternoon for his home, in
Minneapolis. AS Secretary Elkins Is also
absent from the city Major Scho-
field. who is in command of the United
States army. became also Acting Secretary
of War. This function devolyed upon
him by designation of the President, made
early in the administration, in conformity
with the usual practice. which is intended
to guard against a vacancy in the head OF
a department during the absence of the
Secretary and the Assistant Secretary.
General Scho1ield has frequently served
in the capacity of Acting Secretary
of War during this and the pre-
ceding administration, he was asked this
afternoon whether he anticipated any call
for fort troops on election day, or had made
any preparation for their use. He SAID that
he was acting in an official capacity and
had no opinion to express. The law rela-
tive TO the use of troops was embodied IN
the statutes; had been expounded In opln-
ions of the Acknowledgement was well
known TO lawyers, and was within easy
access of all.
You can saw" added the General,
"that there has been no lntimatlon from
any official source that troops should be
used. No precautions have been made for
such use. and there has been no sugges-
ton OF intimation that such preparations
should be made"
MR.. ALDRICH's OPINION.
WASHINGTON, November Ex-Governor
Flowers proclamation In New YORK state
and advices from Arkansas and Alabama,
as to the action of the State authorities IN
election matters, caused numerous enuui-
RES TO be made at the White House, at the
Department Of Justice, and at the War De-
nartment as to the probable action OF the
J Federal officials in the event OF conflict
| of jurisdiction.
! consultation with the President for quite
! a time this morning, and consequently
/ could not be seen by outsiders.
/ When he was reached at last he was asked
! if he anticipated trouble between the
| limited States and State authorities. and
he replled: mo; | do not anticipate any
trouble whatever, relying az do on the
/ natrIotism and good sense of the people.
Have YOU considered the possible use
| of troops in protecting law oficersP"
mo. we have not. The possibility OF the
! necessity OF using troops has not been tor
a moment contemplated. As l have al
ready said, the marshals are peace oihcers
and are carefully instructed not to lnclte
or invite violence of any kind. Nor do
construe Governor Flowers proclamation
as in any way conflicting with the views
of this department in its position that II
an election like the one on band the Fedee.
ral lows arc paramount where there /:
snv conflict with the State law. Il
seems clear to me that the election may
be conducted peacefully in all the States
and that no conflict should occur between
FEDERAL and State authorities anywhere i
the same forbearance Is practiced by thu
state authorities as has been enioined OF
the Federal officers. 1t / am quoted IL
= th,s matter desire to emphasize the posi-
ton of the department, as heretofor
stoted--to.wit, that the United State
marshaIs and their deputies are not part
sans and are not TO make dlscrimlnatlol
their duty"