The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-04
DEMOCRATIC REsIsTANOgT0 UNITED STATES
AUTHORITY.

1t Is Characteristic or the Tammany
Democracy that they should threaten
resistance to United States supervisors
of elections, and it is an interesting CO.
incidence that. simultaneous with Tam
many's insolent manifesto, Grover
Cleveland should rend the air with
shouts of fraud" Whenever Demo-
Gratis contemplate the execution of some
outrageous fraud they always prepare
the way by crying "stop thief"
There is not particle of doubt as to
the right of Congress to enact regula-
tons for the election of Representatives
in Congress. The Constitution says:
"The times, places and manner of hold
ing elections for Senators and Repre-
sentatives shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof, but the
Congress may, atany time, by law, make
or alter such regulations" This gives
Congress supervisory power over the
whole subject, for no language could
be broader than that which gives
Congress power eat any time,
by law, to make or alter" the
regulations made by a State. Repre-
GERS. Their qualifications and terms of
Office are prescribed by the national
Constitution and they arc paid out of the
national treasury. Beng national off,
GERS. it is entirely proper that the ma
tional Congress should make any regu-
lations it sees fJ concerning the
manner of their election. In er parte
Seibold the Supreme Court of the United
States, Justice Bradley delivering the
opinion of the Court, said: "The
power of Congress over the subject
is paramount. 1t may be exercised
as and when Congress sees fit to exer-
else it. When exercised, the action of
Congress, SO far as it extends and con-
flicts with the regulations of the State,
necessarily supersedes them"
The law for the appointment Of super
visors of elections is an exercise of this
undoubted power of Congress. By it
Congress says. In effect, that in addition
to State laws and regulations in regard
to the election of Representatives, Con-
gress will provide for the appointment
of its own agents, who, under regulations
prescribed by Congress. shall see that
elections for Representatives are free.
fair and honest. These supervisors can
only be appointed in an election for
Representatives, but, being appointed,
it is their right and duty to scrutinize
every thing connected with such cleo
tions. The title of their Office indicates
the scope of their duties. They are au-
thorized to supervise" the action of
State officers and election boards, from
the registration of voters down to the
close of the polls and the counting of
the votes. They are the accredited
agents of Congress, and represent its
purpose to prevent fraud and secure
honest elections in the choice Of Repre-
sentatives. eff, for its own conven-
ience,n said Justice Bradley III The de-
cision above cited, "a State sees fit to
elect State and county officers at the
same time and in conjunction with the
election OF Representatives, Congress
will not be thereby deprived of the
right to make regulations in reference
to the latter Supervisors cannot pre-
vent any legal voter from voting. II
would be penal offense for them to at
| tempt to do such thing, or to intimi-
| date or coerce voter. They can only
| interfere for the prevention of fraud
| and in the interest of honest elections.
Supervisors have been appointed III
many elections in many Northern cities,
and there is not an instance on record
of their ever having prevented single
| legal vote from being polled, while they
have been instrumental in preventing
or furnishing many frauds.
tits against the appointment Of these
officers in the city of New York and
otherlarge cities of that State that Tam
many protests, and threatens to prevent
them from performing their duties. The
act of Congress says the supervisor:
may be and remain within the polling
places ''in sucL position, from time L