Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-10-23
THE FORCE BILL INFAMY.

time to time carefully analized the {
Federal Election bill and explained /
how il would operate il enacted into |
law, nearly every mail brings inquiries ,
which seems to indicate on the part Of ,
the writers an entire lack OF familiarity
with its provisions. The bill is too
long to print in full in newspaper,
and its details are so complicated and
SO becloudcd with legal phraseology,
Intentionally SO. no doubt, that com
mentary longer than the bill itself
would be required to make it intelli-
gible TO the popular mind. The plain
purpose Of the bill, however, and the
broad outlines of the methods by which
that purpose would be accomplished,
can be set forth in reasonably brief !
article, and this we will now do in !
response To what appears to DO yet
unsatisfied demand.
In the first place the bill takes away
from the States the power TO appoint
. NittttOt. OiliCttr ttihl DOWtI
upon the judges OF the United States
: Circuit Courts, and the officers thus
appointed have the power to select an
unlimited number Of Deputy Marsh
. ais, who may be employed for some
= time previous to each election AZ
:, rate OF 81 per day for their services.
The number is Unlimited, and the
election officers may appoint one OF
!. five thousand or more OF these marsh
ais in each district II they desire.
: The Federal Judges may also APP
point board cf canvassers from each
:, State, and TIE clerk Of the lower house
Of Congress is required 10 place on the
list Of members whoever may hold the
certificates of this board, 20 the holder
may participate in the organization Of
the House, whether he be entitled 10
!. the certificate or not.
Officers IL the United States may
also supervise and control the regis
tration OF voters, make a thorough
canvass To ascertain the legal status o
:. any registered voter; and finally j
" authorizes the presencs Of the Unite,
- States Army 10 preserve peace ut lii,
- polls.
P@ 1t is safe TO say that a general az
: plica'ion OF the law in the Unite,
- States would result in cost To tn
:" government Of from three to five mil
~ lions OF dollars for each election, an,
might cost much more, all OF whicl
'0' must be paid on: OF the pockets of tn
people who are vexed and oppressed b
the enactment.
But what Is even worse than tn
- cost, the bill practically destroys tn
''e important check which the Constitu
ne ton places upon the conduct Of Fed
ers eral Judges. These judges hold thei
q, offices during good behavior Of lif,
lo They are appointed by the presiden
with the advice and consent OF th
Gu Senate. and are not directly respons
ne, Die to the people. The only way on
il can be removed il by Impeachment
nd AAh
H., must be instituted in the House ,
H.. Reprc sentatives. But IL judges are {
~ appoint a returning board, which j
~ turn is 10 decide who shall sit in th
;,h House OF Representatives, what chanc
e., would there be for the inpeachmeu
hi; and conviction Of Judge who has vi,
,ed l,ted his trust? What partisan on
~ rage would be regarded of sufficier
=. cnormity by his own creatures I
,..r justify his convictiony
al II will be seen that such law woul
H. this practically annul an importar
provision Of the constitution il woul
H. expose the judiciary to the stronge,
-, temptation to yield To their partisa
H. preferences, prevent public justice an
violate their oaths and ally thenlselve
with the dominant party Ii woul
precipitate the country into the mo,
liter partisan conflict known To il
Lodi history, influence sectional hatred
render our elections the merest mocl
lhe cry and free government farce.
Ii IL would be far better, because NOR
%. courageous and manly. to propose a
once the overthrow of our institution
las aud the substitution for them Of
or despotism OF the Dark Ages. The bill
ra. confers power upon the Federal ma
chincry To do what the Emporer Il
hu Germany dare not do anywhere in hi
lii domininns. II contains nnne Of ia
aep guarantees Of fairness and freedom q
nd expire sion which the election laws {
Germany has. IL has none of III
ran, checks which should exist 10 protec
honest aud free voters against the IL
~ limitation and fraud which an IA
ia scrupuluus and desperate party woul
= not hesitate 10 Practice. II is vii
sns, monstrosity and would prove one I
lIss the hlackest hlots on the history {
nti the American legislation.
isls How any intelligent and patriot
IS 10 citizen, interested in the continues
, anu prosperity of his country. who desire
likr lie peace and general welfare and
In hs perpetuation Of its power the glor,
mel can uphold party that seeks to ARA
:. -. = section against section, citizen again;
! 70 citizen, and to practically obliterar
IL those lines Of local gov rnment whic
this the wIsest III our statesmen have deem
l a Ell most necessary far the preservatio