The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-11-02


ton this reserved and slumbering power,
because it would have been violation
of the spirit Of the Constitution to use it
except in case State should fail to pro-
vide indispensable machinery for Con-
gressional elections.
In the year, 1871, the Republican par
ty enacted the first OF the Federal cleo
ton laws now in force. These laws how
ever, clothe the Federal Supervisors and
Marshals with no effective power Of right,
except to look on and report to their su-
periors, now the State officers are con-
Quoting such elections. The Republican
system has resulted so far only in squan-
dering some millions Of public money in
bribery and intimidation OF voters in a
few Democratic cities North and South,
without any practical result.
But the new Force bill means business
1t will give the Republican party abso.
lutte control of Congressional elections
North and South, in city and country,
through bribery, intimidation and false
returns, at enormous and unlimited ex.
pense to be paid out OF the National
Treasury on permanent appropriations
which one house of Congress alone can
not stop. Moreover, it incidently gives
the Republican party the opportunity and
means to largely influence by the same
nefarious methods elections for State Leg
islators, United States Senators and Presi-
dents. The putative author of the bill
was Representative Lodge, of Massachu-
sets. The now openly acknowledged
author is John |. Davenport of New York
City.
This Davenport force bill passed the
House Of Representatives July 20, 1892,
by the vote of almost every Republican,
and against the vote Of every Democrat.
1t was personally, persistently and open
ly supported by President Harrison and
only failed of passing the Senate because
some Republican Senators were more
anxious for free silver than for party SUI
premacy. Newly Endorsed by the Re-
publican National Convention as it now
is, there can be no doubt of It's enactment
if Harrison be re. elected President and
the next Congress be Republican. Daven-
port recently said before committee of
the New York Senate that the bill would
become a law as soon as the Republican
party shall get in control OF the House Of
Representatives.
BY this bill the United States Circuit
Judges, of whom nearly all are Republi-
cans, on the petition of 100 citizens of any
district must appoint one Chief Super
visor for life-a Republican of course.
The Chief Supervisor appoints three as
sistants in every voting precinct in every
Congressional district where citizens ask
that the law be put in force, two of the
assistants to be of one party-Republi-
cans, of course. The United States Mar
shall appoints any number of deputies
asked for by the Chief Supervisor.
The assistant Supervisors serve for not
over go days at each election at So day,
equal to $500 each. The Deputy Marshals
serve for not over an average of eight
days at S. a day, equal to $40 a piece;
the number of Deputy Marshals depends
only on the number needed by the Re-
publican party in any particular district.
To cover the pay of these hirelings, per-
manent appropriation is made, which the
people cannot stop without change of
law, which would require concurrence
of the President and majority OF both
branches of Congress, or a concurrence
of two-thirds OF each OF the two houses of
Congress.
The Marshals are authorized to make
house to house canvass-in the interest
ofthe Republican party of course-against
whom it would be misdemeanor pun
ishable by indictment and trial in U.
S. Court, for any citizens to bar his door.
The Circuit Court appoints Board of
Canvassers in each District, which makes
return of members elected, and the Clerk
of the preceding House of Representa-
tives must put on the list OF members
elect only the names so returned as elect
ed. The men on this list organize the
next House.
After such organization, contest for
seats would be useless. The men so seat
ed would vote for themselves and defeat
the contestants. Ex-Speaker Reed
and Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts,, auda-
ciously declared that it was one of the
merits of the bill that it took contested
elections out OF Congress is, that it
took from the House the power to per-
form its Constitutional duty to Judge of
the election returns and qualifications
OF its own members"
From the foundation of the Govern
ment members of Congress have been
elected on the same ticket with State dis
trict county and town officers the cleo
ton being always conducted by state
officers under state laws. Why are Federal
officers paid by this bill to act in seeming
concert with State officers but in actual
control OF them? Why did not the bill
provide an Independent Federal election
for members Of Congress, conducted by
Federal officers and at the expense of the
general Government. First, because
q H. =. T. \. Z. 4.