The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-06


possible to constitute n commission,
non-partisan in its membership and
composed of patriotic, wise and impair.
tial men, 10 whom consideration oil
the question OF the evils connected with
our elections system and methods might
DO committed with good prospect OF
securing unanitnity in some plan for
removing or mitigating those
evils. The constitution would per-
nit the selection of a CommIs-
sion to be vested in the supreme
court, il that method could give the
best guarantee of impartiality. This
oomission should be charged with the
duty OF inquiring into the whole sub
isct OF the law elections as related to
the choice OF officers OF the national
government, with view to secer-
ing TO every elector free and I'M
molested exercise OF the suffrage and IS
near an approach to an equality OF
value in each ballot cast as is attain
able. The demand thatthe limation OF
suffrage shall be found in the law and
only thsre, is Just demand and no just
man should resist 1t"
1t seemed to me that an appeal to our
people to consider the question OF read
juating our legislation upon absolutely
fair non.partisah lines might find some
effective response. Many times have
had OCCASION to say that laws and cleo
ton methods, designed to give unfair
advantages t. the party making them,
would some time be used to perpetuate
in power faction of q party against the
viii OF the majority Of the people. OF
this we seem to have au illustration in
the recent state election in Alabama,
There was no Republican in the field.
The contest was between white Demo-
Gratis. The Kolb party say they were
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 to protect them
against the dangers Of an ignorant or
deprayed 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, "a
free ballot and u fair count" comes
back to US, not only from Alabama, but
from other states, and from men who,
differing with US widely in opinions
have come to see that parties and
political debate are but mockery, If,
when the debate is ended, the judg-
ment OF honest maiorities is to be re-
versed by ballot box frauds and tally
sheet manipulation 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 appor-
tionment 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 cleo
tions free and honest. That the Re-
publican party would rejoice at such a
solution as a healthy and patriotic local
sentiment is the best assurance OF free
and honest elections. l shall again
urge upon Congress that provision be
made forthe appointments of non-parti-
san commission to consider the subject
Of annnrtinnmanta and aleCtiong in
their relation to the choice oil federal
officers. ..
, CIVIL SERVICE. b., ..5.i.,
Tho civil sorvica svstem has been ex-
wv, So 49, iii, 49,.
tenoeo ana the law eniorceu VIII Sisof
and impartiality. There has been no
partisan iuppling with the law in any
at the departments or bureaus as had
before happened appointments to
the classified service have been made
invariably from the eligible lists.
The system now in force in all the
departments has for the first time
nlaced promotions strictly upon the
basis of merit. ascertained by daily
record and efficiency OF the force greatly
increased.
~. ,.,,,o,,
. wv,
The approval given SO nearby oy tne
convention to all those agencies which
contribute to the education Of the chill
49, - .ho LA ,ros ,vortbilv bostowed
uIen VI sne IA, 4S bo "Ss ornroy,I as does
a aiNa l 4te dn3,nrotioy az ~ i;hartv oi
. AZ" Ine ana cnnS"ionce and the sensro.
t;NI 81 c S and s,sts The safetv of
the republic is an intelligent citizenship,
and the increased interest manifested
in the states in education, the