Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-09-21

entirely too long for anybody to read,
except those who have nothing else to
do, but the following true digest of ii is
short enough to be read by even the
busiest man:
THE bill contemplates the appoint
ment of an army of Federal supervisors
who are TO. assume the charge of our
elections at every polling place. These
officials have the right to dictate what
person shall register; they may re-
quire' the local election officers to regis
ter name and to strike oil one already
on the register. There is but one per-
fected registry list at State elections,
and if voters name is stricken OFT
under the direction of a federal official
he cannot vote for State candidate or
any other candidate because of the
omission of his name. The same rule
applies to voting on election day, be-
cause the federal officials are permit
ted to themselves receive and deposit
any ballot rejected by the local officers,
and as our ballot reform law and the
laws of most of the States require the
names of all candidates to be upon one
ballot, the bill gives the power to the
federal officials absolutely to determine
who may vote for State and county otli-
GERS,
The bill usurps the rights and pre-
negatives of the State, breaks down all
the safeguards which have existed for
century and places all our elections
at the mercy of federal officials who
hold their offices for life. The certit-
Gates of the federal election officers as
to the election ola Congressman are TO
be conclusive upon the clerk of the
House, notwithstanding they may diff
fer from the certificates of the local in
spectors. A house to house canvass is
to be made by these federal supervi-
sors, and they may be accompanied by
deputy United States marshals, and
thus it is apparent that as these officials
are all republicans, the republican
campaign, national and State, is 10 be
really conducted at the expense of the
general government.
The chief supervisors are authorized
to employ whatever United States
troops they may deem necessary at the
polls or elsewhere for the purpose ofcar-
rying the law into effect The homes
of citizens may be ruthlessly invaded
and swarms of officials, strangers
10 the people of the locality, may
be employed; arbitrary arrests with
out warrant may follow; old men
may be dragged to distant courts
upon technical charges tolerated under
this law; the decisions Of State and To-
cal courts may be set aside; federal
officials are to take part in the count
and may handle the ballots, and a reign
of terror may be instituted whereby the
legitimate and honest electors may be
inundated by Il well concerted and
obnoxious display of governmental
power.
This is an epitome of what may be
attempted and accomplished under the
Davenport scheme to promote ''the
purity of the ballot box" in the several
States of the Union. The law would be
expensive in its operation, dangerous IN
in its enforcement, and is of doubtful
constitutionality. 1t would drag judges
into politics, degrade the army, weaken
respect for federal authority, provoke
conflicts between races as well as be-
tween the people and the military, and
the present era of Cancellation and good
feeling would be superseded by the
prevalence of a spirit Of bitterness and
hate. The bill is desperate attempt
to prop up the failing fortunes of a once
great political party it was conceived
in political animosity, is urged from the
narrowest and worst of motives, and is
unworthy place among the statutes of
the American republic.