The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-10-15
The Force Biil, Infamy.

Tho Force Bill InfAmy.
Although The Republic has from time
to t1ns carefully analysed the Federal
Elections bill. and explained how it
would operate II enacted into law. near
| " every mail brings inquiries which
sees. to indicate o. tho part Of the writ
ers a entire lack Of familiarity with its
provisions. The bin IL too long to print
in full in ! newspaper, and it details are
70 complicated and 20 becloudod with
legal phraseology, Intentionally %, no
doubt, that commentary longer thaa
the bill itself would b required to make
it intelligible to the popular mind. The
plain purpose Of the bill, however, and
the broad outlines Of the methods by
which that purpose would be accom-
Pushed, can be set forth in reasonably
brief article, and this We will now do in
response to what appears to he yet un-
satisfied demand.
In the first place the bill takes away
from the States the power to appoint
election officers and confers that power
upon the Judges of the United States
Circuit Courts, and the officers thus ap-
pointed have the power to select an un-
limited number Of Deputy Msrshals, who
may be employed for some time previous
to each election 1t rate of IS per day
for their services. The number 10 un-
limited, and the election officers may ap-
I point one or five thousand or more Of
| these Marshals in each district If they
desire.
The Federal Judges may also appoint
| q Board of Canvassers for each State, and
the Clerk Of the Lower House OF Con-
gress is required to place on the list OF
members whoever may hold the certifi
Gates of this board, so the holder may
participate in the organization Ut the
House, whether he he entitled to the Ger.
tificate or not.
Officers of the United States may also
supervise and control the registration Of
voters. make thorough canvass to as
certain the legal status of any registered
voter; and finally it authorizes the pres
ence Of the United States Army to pre-
serve peace at the polls.
! 1t is safe to say that general applica-
ton of the law in the United States
would result in cost to the Government
of from three to i've millions Of dollars
for each election, and might cost much
more, all of which must be paid out ol
the pockets Of the people who are ve4ed
and oppressed by the enactment.
But what is even worse than the cost
the bill practically destroys the important
check which the Constitution places upon
the conduct Of Federal Judges. These
Judges hold their Offices during good he
havior or life. They are appointed BY
the President with the advice and con
sent of the Senate, and are not directly
responsible to this people. The only way
one can be removed is by impeachment
and proceedings for impeachment must
be instituted in the House Of Represents
tivcs. But if Judges are to appoint q Re
turning Board, which in turn is to decid'
who shall sit in the House Of Representa-
ii. es. what chance would there be fol the
impeachment and conviction Of Judg,
who had violated his trust3 What parti
san outrage would be regarded of sutti
cieat eaormity by his own creatures to
justify his conviction2
It will he seen that such law would
thus practically annul an important pro
vision of the Constitution; it would ex
pose the judiciary to the strongest temp
tation to yield to their partisan prefer
euces, pervert public justice and violate
their oaths aud ally themselves with the
dominant party. 1t would precipitat'
the country into the most bitter partisan
conflict known to its history, infame sec
tional hatreds, render our elections thu
merest mockery and free government I
farce.
i It would he far better, because more
courageous aud manly, to propose 1t onc'
the overthrow of our institutions and thu
substitution for them of despotism o
the Dark Ages. The bill confers = pow
er upon the Federal machinery to d.
what the Emperor Of Germany dare no
do anywhere in his dominiOns. 1t con
j tains none Of the guarantees of fairness
and freedom Of expression which thu
election laws Of Germany has. 1t hal
none Of the checks which should exist to
protect honest and free voters against thu
intimidation and fraud which an I'M
scrupuious aud desperate party woulc
not hesitate to practice. It is vile mon
strosity and would prove one Of thu
blacklist blots On the history Of American
legislation.
| How any intelligent and patriotic cit
izen, interested in the continued prosper
ity Of his country, who desires its peac'
and. general welfare and = perpetuatiol
Of it, power and glory. can uphold
party that seeks to array section agains
section, citizen against citizen, and t
practically obliterate those lines Of Ioca
government which the wisest Of ouI
statesmen have deemed most necessary
for the preservation Of our liberties, W
cannot understand. It shonld not be .
party issue. It is IN issue bctWecI
patriotism and spoils, between prosperi.
II aud decay. between peace and disorde
and strife and riot-between freedom and
desp0tism. But the Republican part!
formulated the bill, passed It through
tho House, approved it in their platform
and proclaim It - 4 cherished object o.
legislation. By it they must stand O
fa!l.-St. Louis Republic.
George B. Bayley, a capitalist 0
Oakland, CAL, beat the record 0
Nancy Hanks for speed. While -
cending Mount Rainier, one of tn