The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-23
FREE AND TA1R ELECTIONS.

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What Prssidsnt HARRISON says in Ills
Letter About tho so-Cniled Force BILL
Frum us RysaGeHrs Later Of acceptance
In my last annual message to Con-
gress / said: II must yet entertain the
hope that it is possible to secure a
calm. patriotic consideration OF such
constitutional or statutory changes as
may be necessary to secure the choice
Of officers of the government to the
people by fair appointments and
free elections. l believe it would be
possible to constitute a commission,
ron.partisau in its membership and
composed of patriotic, wise and impair.
tial men, to whom consideration OF
theQuestions OF the evilsconnected with
our elections system and methods might
be committed with good prospect oil
securing unanimity in some plan Tor
removing or mitigating those evils. Tho
constitution would permit the selection
OF a commission to he vested in the
supreme court, il that method could
give the best guarantee OF impartiality
This commission should be charged with
the duty of inquiring into the whole
subject Of the law OF elections as related
to the choice OF officers OF the national
government, with view to securing TO
every elector FREQ and unmoleSted
exercise OF the suffrage and as near an
approach to an equality OF value IN each
ballot cast as is attainable. The de-
maud that the limitation OF suffrage
shall be found in the law and only
there, is u Just demand aud no just man
should resist it"
1t seemed to me that an appeal to our
people TO consider tho question Of read
iusting our legislation upon absolutely
lair nom partisan lines might find some
effective response. Many times have
had occasion to gay that laws and cleo
ton methods, designed to give unfair
advantages to the party making them,
would some time DO used to perpetuate
in power faction OF party against the
will OF the majority oil the people. vi
this we seem TO have an illustration IN
the recent state election in Alabama.
The contest was between white Demo-
Gratis The Kolb party say they we're
refused representation guaranteed by
law upon the election board, and
that, when the courts by mandamus
attempted to right this wrong, an APP
peal that could not be heard until after
the election made the writs Intellectual.
Ballot boxes were thrown out for al
legged Irregularities, or destroyed; and
it is asserted on behalf OF one-half, at
least, OF the white voters OF Alabama
that the officers to whom certificates
have been given were not elected.
There is no surety for personal or polit-
ical rights. The power OF the states
over the question Of qualification OF
electors is ample 10 protect them
against the dangers oil an ignorant or de-
PRAYED suffrage, and the demand that
every man found to be qualified under
the law shall be made secure in the
right to cast free ballot and to have
that ballot honestly counted cannot be
abated.
Our old Republican battle cry, 20 free
ballot and a fair count" comes back to
us, not only from Alabama, but from
other states, and from men who, differ
ing with US widely in opinions, have
come to see that parties and political
debate are but mockery, ii, when the
debate is ended, the judgment OF hon.
est maiorities is to be reversed by ballot
box frauds and tally sheet manipula-
lions in the interest OF the city or party
faction in power. These new political
movements in the states and the recent
decisions OF some Of the state courts
against unfair apportionment laws,
arouse the hope that the arbitrary and
partisan election laws and practices
which have prevailed may be corrected
by the states, the law made equal and
non:partisan. and the elections free and
honest. That the Republican party
would rejoice at such n solution as a
healthy and patriotic local sentiment is
the best assurance of free and honest
elections. shall again urge upon Con-
gross that provision be made for the APP
pointment Of anon-partisan commission
10 consider the subject Of apportion-
ments and elections, in their relation to
tho choice of federal officers.