The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-10-06
THE FORCE BILL.
CLEVELAND INVOKED ITS AID TO
REFLECT HIMSELF PRESIDENT.

from President Cleveland Requiring
the Use of Force Bill Methods in the
Election of Four Years Ago.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-The most strik-
ing development of the week has
been discovery with reference to the
attitude of President Cleveland on the
election laws. 1t is a curious fact that
The so called force bill about which
the Democrats are now complaining SO
loudly is little more than an extension
to all parts of the country of the present
United States election laws. These laws,
which authorized United States marshals
and supervisors to prevent frauds and
disorder at the polls in the election of
United States officials, have been in force
for years. They apply in detail, how
ever. only to cities of 10000 inhabitants
or more. The force bill so called is
little more than an extension of these
laws to the small towns and country dis
tricts when it is asked for by the citizens
of those sections.
The discovery that President Cleve-
land authorized and required the en-
forcement of this law when he was a
candidate for reelection for the presi-
dency has been sad blow to the Demo-
Gratis. 1t has taken away the only issue
which they had left. Labor Commission
er Peck destroyed their free trade issue
by showing what the Mckinley tariff
had done for labor in New York. Demo-
Gratis innumerable have denounced their
free banking issue, and now this measly
man with a memory has destroyed their
last issue-the so called force bill-by
showing that their own candidate au-
thorized and required its use while pres
ident in the campaign in which his own
reelection was at stake.
The documents which this student of
the official history of Cleveland's admin
istration brought to the surface are the
following order by President Cleveland
to Attorney General Garland and the
order issued by Mr.. Garland:
DEAR SiR-You are hereby requested to take
general charge and direction of the execution
of the statutes of the United States touching
the appointments of supervisors of elections
and special deputy marShalS, and the perform
ance of their duties and their compensation,
so far as these subjects are by the constitution
and laws under the supervision and control
of the executive branch of the government.
Yours truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
Immediately afterward this letter was
sent by Attorney General Garland to
United States marShalS:
SIR-In pursuance of a letter of the 9Th inst.
from the president, directing the attorney
general to take charge of the appointment
of special deputy marshals, the performance
Of their duties and their compensation, to-
gether with the compensation of supervisors"
at the congressional election in November
next, your attention is directed to the pro-
visions of titles "a and 26, chapter Z, title 20 of
the Revised Statutes. Under sections 2022
and 2O24 Revised Statutes you have power to
keep the peace, project supervisors, preserve
order, prevent frauds and enforce the law in
towns of 10000 Inhabitants and upward. You
should make yourself familiar with the stat
utes referred to and see that they are under
stood by your deputies, who should be discreet
men, impressed with the Importance of an
honest franchise.
The manner of discharging these duties by
yourself and sour deputies is largely left to
your discretion. In matters involving ques-
lions of law you are directed to consult the
attorney of the United States for your dis
trict for needed information and advice 1t is
assumed that the duties can be performed
without infringing upon the rights of any
citizen in manner that shall be firm and at
the same time free from any unnecessary dis
piay of authority. 1t is not expected that
supervisors and deputy marshals will receive
compensation for more than five days service,
and they should be so informed. Within this
time all can be done, it is thought, that ought
- ,Aa1 x,iDl LIANT yr1Ac
scientiouS workers, and no others.
In this connection perhaps it will be
we'll to inquire little more at length as
to what the so called force bill really
was. Every man who knows the facts
knows that it was little more than an
extension to all the people who want it
OF the laws for the prevention of fraud
through government aid, which are now
enforced in the great cities ct all con-
gressional and presidential elections.
These laws have proved themselves over
and over again wise and judicious. It
is conceded on all hands that they have
greatly reduced frauds and crime at the
polls and in the matter of registration
in great cities. And thinking people
who are hearing the cry against the
force bill are inquiring what it is that
this privilege should not be given to
people in the small towns and country
districts if they desire it.
What did the force bill really propose
to do?
First-To extend to the people of the
whole country desiring it the privilege
Of utilizing the laws already in exist
ence for the prevention of fraud through
properly authorized government officials
clothed with power for that purpose.
Second-It made false registration or
interference with registration crime.
Third-It made bribery at elections a
crime for the giver or the taker.
Fourth-It required the ballot boxes
to be placed in such position as to be
easily accessible and easily distinguished
the one from the other.
Fifth-It made the rejection of legal
votes or the acceptance of illegal ones a
crime, or the placing of illegal ballots in
boxes or the unlawful removal of legal
ballots from them crime. 1t made
ballot box stealing or destruction or any
neglect of duty by officers of the election
q crime.
That was the sum total of the provi-
sions of the so called force bill. Prac-
tically all of them were included in the
law which President Cleveland ordered
his subordinates to enforce.
1t is now a serious question what the
Democrats will find as an issue. Com
missioner Peck destroyed their low tariff
issue by his report showing the remark
able prosperity under the Mckinley law;
the free banking issue has proved SO un-
popular that it has been abandoned, and
now with the force bill issue destroyed
through the discovery that its use was
recognized and authorized by Mr.. Cleve-
land while president there seems to be
lila 6s5,.aa For: tho Dam