Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-15
GROVER DID IT.

WAsaIsaTos, Oct. 3-Another Dem
oeratie idGl has fallen Ano<her
Democratic campaign Issue" has been
destroyed And this. TOO. by Mr.. Clsye-
land himself
been unfortunate IN re issues n this
campaign. is tariff Issue was destroyed
d. menher Of ia own party-Lsbor
Commissioner Peck IT'S wildcat cur
rency iss1s wa destroyed by members
OF Ia own party iun4Insrsble, who de-
nonnce 10 ansparIngly. And now is
Last and only remaining issue. the force
bail. mas been destroyed By Mr.. Cleye-
land himself
It eaIaa about IN this way. Some
vretchsd person with good memory.
VINO had listened with amusement and
amazsment 70 tbs plantiye walls Of the
Democracy about the force bill. suddenly
remembered that Mr.. Cleveland, while
president and . candidate for re-elec-
ton, not only authorized, bat absolutely
ordered for his own benefit, the enforce
meuE OF the very force bill features Of
the then existing law. about which DEM
ocrats ars now SD much agAated.
This discovery has been the political
event OF the week. IL WAS as much OF
u bombshell In the Democratic camp a.
was the Peck report few weeks ago.
II takes away the last leg the Democrats
had 20 stand On. The three issues upon
which they were making or attempting
10 make their tight in this campaign
were free trade, free banks, free frauds
at the polls Curiously every one II
them has been knocked out, and that,
too, by Democrats But the most dis
tressing thing is that the distraction Of
the last one Of these issues left 10 the
party should have come about through
an official act OF the party's own candi-
date while he occupied the White House
And this be did with the purpose OF re-
elscting himself president Of the United
States.
The facts are these, and they are very
interesting; The so called force bin
simply proposed 10 extend To small towns
and country districts Of the United
States the law which has been In force
for years through which United States
rnarshals and supervisors Of elections.
enforce order and prevent fraud in any
city OF 10000 inhabitants or more in
elections for congressman or other United
States officials. The recent discovery.
which has created such panic in Dem
ocratic circles and taken away the last
yestige OF an ISSUE" was the fact that
President Grover Cleveland, on the ap-
proach OF the election OF 1883, when he
was A candidate for reelection for the
presidency. issued To Attorney General
PAN Electric" Garland. under date OF
Oct. 5. 1888, the following order:
DEAR sIk-You are hereby requested to take
general charge and direction OF the execution
OF the statutes Of tho United States touching
the appointments Of supervisors OF elections
and special deputy marshals. and the perform
ance Of their duties and their compensation
80 far these subjects are by the constitution
and Laws under the supervision and contro
Of thu executive branch OF the governments
Yours truly. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Immediately afterward this letter wa:
sent by Attorney General Garland &c
United States marshals:
sn-fn pursuance Of letter Of the 5th inst
from the president directing the attorney
general 30 take charge Of the appointment
OF special deputy marshals. the performance
OF their duties and their compensation. to
sssher with the compensation Of supervisors,
at tho congressional election In November
next. your attention Is directed TO the pro
visions Of titles - and s6 char pier Z. title 20 OF
the Revised ss~eufes- Under sections 2,0-
and AGA Revised Statutes you have power Il
keep the peace. protect supervisors. preserv,
order. prevent frauds and enforce the law IL
towns Of O.ooo Inhabitants and upward. Yor
should make yourself familiar with the stat
utes refsrrcd 90 and see that they under
stoosrby yoar Deputies. who should be discreet
men. impressed with the importance OF M
honest franchise
The manner Of dischsrying these duties by
yoursen and yoor deputies Is largely left Il
your discretion In matters involving CUES
tons Of lay you arc directed TO consult ths
attorney OF the United States for your dis
trics for needed Information and advice 1t !.
assumed that the duties be performed
without Infringing upon the rights Of ans
citizen In . manner that shall he firm. and a.
the sane time free from any unnecessary dis
play Of authority. IL Ii not expected tina
supervisors and deputy marshals viii receiv,
compensation for more than Eve days service
snd thsy should be so informed Within
this time all can oe done. 10 Il thought. tha
ought 10 be. Yoa need vigilant men. who sr'
conscientious WORKERS. and no others.
IL is thus shown from official record,
that Mr.. Cleveland. while president. or
Gered his subordinates 70 use, in the
election In which no was himself can
didate. the very laws TO which his party
Is now 40 strenuously Directing. Tn,
go called force bill. about which Demo
Gratis are bowling. was the very essenc,
OF The act which Mr.. Cleveland ordered
his subordinates 20 enforce for his wor
reelection. This is all there is to the
force bill bugaboo. II was simply pro
posed law providing for an extension e
country districts. on the petition of citi
Ksns. Of the law already in force in the
cities Of ~. 600 inhabitants or more.
What did the force bill really pro
pose 20 do2 Is proposed 20 extend TO the
country districts. where fraud is now q
matter q common occurrence. practic
ally the Same law which Mr.. Cieve
land ordered enforced. It proposed q
make false registration or interference
with registration crime. il made
keeping false poll lists q crime: il made
election brides and ballot box stufiing 4
crime. il required ballot boxes TO b
placed in plain sight Of voters. and tss
vrillful placing in those boxes Of illegal
ballots a crime. IL made improper ma
uipulation of ballot boxes or ballots a
crime And that - all. That IA the
law which President Cleveland ordered
his suboriinstes - enforce 10 aid in hH
own reelection, and it - the proposed
law 40 extended a. 70 be available for