The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-01
THE FORCE BILL QUESTION
II Il the Most Pressing and Most vital
Yssue Now Before Inc Country.

1AE FOHCE BILL VOhS1xONs
II l. tn. Mos. PRESSING ana Most vital
Hssue Now Before the Country.
BY KIND Permission Of ne C1aeinrnti Pos.
Article 4. section 4. Of the Constitution OF
the United States placed in the State Legisla-
lures the solo powcr Of controlling Congress
sional elections. But lest some OF the States
might through hostility to the general Gov
ernment. neglect to enact Avs or appropriate
money for conducting such elections-as seven
out OF the thirteen States OF the Confederation
had done at the close Of the Revolutionary
wAr-it was provided that Congress may at
any time make or alter such election laws.
Federalists aud Republicans we're alike re-
lnctant to give the general Government this
power. rs all had Inherited the British hatred
OF Interference by Crown or Parliament.
through soldiers or civil emissnries, with the
control by the people, through their Sheriffs
and deputies. residents OF the vicinage. OF the
elections OF their servants to Parliament. TIL
clause In question was ut last consented to and
ratified BY our iorefathers only because IT.
seemed to be an indispensable safeguard
against q failure by any State to provide for
Conversational elections.
From It's foundation until 1871 tho Federal
Government never touched the elections OF
fnombers Of Congress, No State ever failed to
elect Its full quota except during the war OF
the rebellion. Amid all tho fierce struggles Of
parties there was no thought Of calling into
action this reserved and slumbering power.
because II would have been a violation Of tho
spirit Of tho Constitution to use it except in
case o State should fail to provide the indis-
penssble machinery for Congress elections.
In that year. 1871. the Republican party
enacted the first Of the Federal Election laws.
now in force. These laws. however. clothe
fhA Endara1 spnnertanra and ~ arahaI 18th No
power or right except to look on and report to
their superiors how the State officers are con-
Quoting such elections. The Republican sys.
tom has resulted SO far only In sQuandering
some millions Of public moneys in bribery
and intimidation Of voters In q few Demo-
cratic cities. North and South. without any
other practical result
But the new Force bill means business. It
will give the Republican party absolute con-
troll OF Congressional elections North and
South. In city and country. through bribery.
intimidation. and false returns. at enormous
and unlimited expense. to be paid out Of the
national Treasury on permanent approprla-
tons which one House Of Congress alone can.
not stop Moreover. It incidentally gives the
Republican party the opportunity and means
to largely influence. by the Same nefarious
methods. elections for State officers. county
on1cers. State Legislators. United States Sena-
tors. and Presidents. The putative author OF
tho bill was Representative Lodge OF Massa-
chusetta The now openly Acknowledged
author Is John I. Davenport OF New York city.
This Davenport Force bill passed tho House
OF REPRESENTATIVES July 20. 1890. BY the votes
Of almost every Republican and against the
vote OF every Democrat 1t was personally.
persistently. and openly supported By Presi.
dent Harrison. and only failed Of passing the
Senate because some Republican Senators
were moro anxious for free silver than for
party supremacy. Newly endorsed BY tho
Republican National Convention. as 1t now Is.
there can be no doubt Of it's enactment II Har-
riSon Do reelected President and the next
Congress be Republican. Davenport recently
said before q committee OF the New York Sem
ate that the bill would become law as soon as
the Republican party gets control Of the House
OF Representatives..
tof whom nearly oil are Republicans. on the
petition Of one hundred citizens Of any dis
trict. must appoint one chief supervisorfor life
- Republican. OF course. Tho chief super
visor appoints three assistants in every voting
precinct IN every Congressional district where
citizens ask that the law be put In force: two
ofths three assistants to be Of one party-Re.
publicans. Of ooutsa The United states Mar
shall appoints any number Of deputies asked
for by the chief supervisor. The assistant
supervisors serve for not over sixty days at
each election at IS o day. equal to 5000 each.
Tho deputy marshals serve for not over an av-
GRACE OF eight days at SIS . day. equal to $40
apiece: the number Of deputy marshals de-
ponds only on the number needed by the Re-
publican party in any particular district To
cover the pay of these hirelings a permanent
appropriation Is made. which the people can
not stop without q change Of the law. which
would require o concurrence OF the President
and . majority Of both branches Of Congress.
or . concurrence OF two-thirds OF each Of the
" Houses OF Congress. The marshals are
authorized to make house-to-house canvasses
in the interest Of the Republican party. OF
c~ourse-against whom 1t would be q misde-
meanor. punishable by indictment and trial In
o United States court. for any citiaen to bar his
doors. The Circuit Court appoints a Board OF
Canvassers in each district. which makes re-
turn Of members elected. and the Clerk Of the
preceding House OF Representatives must put
on the list OF members elect only the names so
returned as elected. The men on this list or
eanize the next House. After such oreaniza-
ton . contest for seats would DO useless. The
men 80 seated would vote for themselves and
defeat the contestants. Ex-Speaker Reed and
Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts, audaciously de-
clared that It was one Of the merits Of the bill
that IL TOOK contested elections out OF Con-
Rress-that is. that 1t took from tho House the
power to perform Its constitutional duty to
Judge Of the elections returns and Qualiaca-
lions OF It's own members"
From tho foundation Of the Government
members OF Congress have been elected on
the same ticket with State. dietrict. county.
and town officers. the election 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 them2 Why did not the
bill provide an independent Federal election
for members Of Congress. conducted by Fed,
ersl officers and at the expense Of the general
Government First. because there Is no party
need for this scheme Of intimidation and
bribery In districts safely Republican. but only
In Democratic or hotly contested districts;
and. second. because tho contrIvors OF this
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