The Forrest City times., 1892-11-04
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In his letter of instructions to super visors Chief Supervisor Mcclure says:
 The act of congress under which you are acting Is. as has been said. paramount tu any state law concerning elections for representa- tivcs in congress. The state law is in conflict with the act of congress and its observance would retnrd and interfere with proper dis charge of your duties. You will therefore disregard the state law and be guided in tue performance of your duties by tho act under which you were appointed. am adv lsed that deputy marshals will be appointed for your preciuctand be in attendance on the day or election. should you need any protection, you can apply to them. The marshal or his deputy has power to arrestany one, no matter W hat his office or station may be, who in- terferes with you in the discharge of your duties. The power Of deputy marshal will De referred to hereafter.
 If any federal marshal or deputy shall appear at any voting place in Ar kansas, outside the city af Little Rock. and attempt to exercise any authority in the conduct of the election he will be guilty of plain usurpation of power. and nobody knows this better than John Mcclure, chief supervisor. The marshals cannot exercise any power or supervision anywhere, except in cities of 20 GOO inhabitants and upward. There may be five hundred or five thousand of them at the coming cleo ton in Arkansas, but outside the city of Little Rock they have no more power to control or supervise than so many private citizens. Here is the section l202l) of the Revised Statutes governing the appointment of marshals:
 Whenever an election at which representa- tiyes CT delegates in congress are 70 he chosen
 Is held in any city or town Of %, 900 inhabitants or upwards. the marshal for the district Tn which the city or town is situated shall, on the application fin writing, of at least two cit- zcns residing fin such city or town, appoint special deputy marshals whose duty IL shall be. when required thereto, to aid and assist ! the supervisors of election in the verincation of any list of persons who may have registered or voted; to attend in each election district or voting precinct at the times and places liked for the registration Of voters. and at all tunes ! and places when and where the regist ration may by law be scrutinized. and the names oi registered voters be marked for challenge and also to attend. at all times Tor holding elec- tions, the polls in such district or precinct.
 It is perfectly plain that the marshals cannot scrutinize the registration, challenge voters or attend the polls ex- cept in cities or towns of 20, 900 inhab- itants or upwards. And yet ill spite of this law so plain that it cannot be misunderstood, Judge Mcclure says he IS advised that deputy marshals will be appointed for your precinct and be in attendance on the day Of the cleo l tion." Then he adds: "The marshal or his deputy has power to arrest any one, no matter what his office or station may be, who interferes with you in the discharge of your duties" Let 1t be understood once for all that there is no truth in this statement, and the chief supervisor knew 1t when he issued his instructions" The voters of Arkansas are law abiding men. They will res ,ect with loyal obedience -all the laws governing elections, state and federal. But they will not sub init to any usurpation of power. They will not permit the presence of mar shals or their deputies around the polls except in the capacity of private citl- Zens. If they attempt to interfere with the election in any way they should be promptly arrested by the sheriff or his deputies and proceeded against according to law. And this IS what will be done.
 If Judge John Mcclure, chief super visor, with utter contempt of the law, shall succeed in procuring conflict between the county authorities and his bogus marslials, he will have to bear the responsibility. But the Democrat warns him and his partisans of the consequences. If he persists in sowing to the wind, he ought to have sense enough to know what the harvest will be