Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-10-20
The Force Bill in the Next Congress.

The Force Bill in the Next Congress.
In order to lull apprehensions in re-
gard to the Force bill, the Chicago 1rt-
bune says that even should Harrison be
reelected there is no prospects of Re-
publican majority in the next house of
representatives. This is very slender
reliance. We have no example in which
the majority of a house chosen in pre-
sidential year and the successful candi-
date for the Presidency were not of the
same political party.
1t is true that the, Republican major
ity returned to the house four years ago
did not exceed three in number, subse-
quently increased to twenty by pre-
varicating committee on elections; but it
was enough for partisan ends.
The election of large Democratic
majority to the house in 1876, when
Hayes was counted into the office of
president, affords no exception to the
rule, as Tilden was the choice of the
people.
Should Harrison be elected there is
little doubt that Republican house
would also be secured; and house in
political harmony with the senate and
the president would mean new Force
bill. A Force bill passed by congress
and signed by the president would mean
Republican majority in future houses
of representatives, no matter whom the
people might choose at the ballot box.
In this Infamous measure" as Sena-
tor Teller of Colorado described it, is
contained the machinery to perpetuate
a partisan majority in congress in the
interest Of the men controlling the ma
chine. This would be its effect and this
is the design of its authors.
The Force bill is nothing else than an
attempt to defeat the free expression of
the popular will; to gag the voice of
the people for years to come. 1t is
link in the chain for binding the nation
hand and foot in order to confirm and
maintain the will of the monopolistic
bands who, through system of tariff
robbery and fraud, are sucking the life
blood of the people.
Never have the lust for power and
spoils, the spirit of violence and the
reckless hostility of party toward pop
ular institutions betrayed themselves
more thoroughly than in this measure.
If the people should give to the Re-
publican party power to pass this meas
ure, then complaints would come too
late when they should find the freedom
of elections ruthlessly destroyed.
Forewarned is forearmed. When a
leading Republican journal confesses
that the only barrier against the Force
bill is in the failure to elect a Republi-
can president and Republican house of
representatives the most unwary voter
should recognize the extent of the dan
ger that menaces free elections. Record.
BECAUSE work in the coal regions is
brisk this month some of the combine
sheets are busily engaged in praising the
great monopoly for its generosity in al
lowing the miners to work full time
But why shouldn't they always work
steady? Anthracite is in demand at all
seasons of the year, and there is no ex-
cuse for idle time in this industry. The
miners haye no reason to thank the
Reading for giving them steady work.
Such thing is only natural while there
are millions of consumers.
PICK up almost any Republican paper
these days and you will find statement
to the effect that there are plenty of idle
men eager to take any kind of employ
ment at any kind of pay. Then turn tt
the political column and you will fine
that, so greats blessing has the Mckinley
bill been, workingmen are fully employ
ell and reveling in prosperity.