Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-13
CLEVELAND INVOKED ITS AID TO
REFLECT HIMSELF PRESIDENT.
History FROM Omoiai Records. An order
hom riesidspt Ci.v.lALS Requiring
the Use Of Force BnI Methods In the
Election Of -Four Years Ago.

disorder at the polls in the election Of
United States officials, have been In force
for years. They apply In detail, how
ever, only 10 cities OF 10000 inhabitants
or more Tho force bill 10 called Is
little moro than an extension of these
laws TO the small towns and country dis
tricts when it is asked for by the citizens
Of those sections
The discovery that President Cleve-
land authorized and required the en-
forcement OF this law when he was
candidate for reelection for the presi-
/ dency has been n sad blow 10 the Demo
Gratis. Il has taken away the only issue
which they had left. Labor Commission
J er Peck destroyed their free trade issue
/ by showing what the Mckinley tariff
had done for labor in New York. Demo-
Gratis innumerable have denounced their
free banking issue, and now this measly
man with.a memory has destroyed their
last issue-the so called force bill-by
showing that their own candidate au.
/ thorized aud required its use while pres-
ident In tho campaign in which his own
reelection was at stake.
The documents which this student of
the official history Of Clevelands admin
istration brought to the surface are the
following order by President Cleveland
to Attorney General Garland and the
order issued by Mr.. Garland:
DEAR SUI You are hereby requested to take
general charge and direction OF the execution
u the statutes Of the United States touching
the appointments Of supervisors NJ elections
and special deputy marshals, aud the PERFORM
Hnco Of their duties and their mponsation,
80 far ns these subjects are by the constitution
and laws under tho supervision aud control
Of tho executive branch Of tho government.
/ Yours truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
Immediately afterward this letter was
sent by Attorney General Garland to
United States marshals;
SiR-In pursuance Of letter Of the 9Th lust.
from tho president, directing the attorney
general to take charge of the appointment
of special deputy marHhalH, the performance
Of their duties and their compensation, TO-
gether with the compensation OF supervisors"
at the congressional election In November
next, your attention IL directed 10 the pro-
visions NJ titles ~ and "a, chapter Z, tito 10 NJ
the Revised statutes. Under sections 2n2
and s,U,i Revised Statutes you have power 10
Keep the peace, protect supervisor, preserve
order, prevent frauds and enforce the law In
towns Of a.OOO inhabitants aud upward. You
D hllulln NlNht lbulhtlI IlutlllNT WIN Tue stat
utes referred to and see that they are under
stool by your deputies, who should DO discreet
men, impressed with the importance Of an
honest franchise.
Tho manner Of discharRug these duties by
yourself and your deputies IL largely left To
your discretion. In matters involving qurs-
tions " law you are directed to consult tho
attorney Of the United states for your dis
trct Tor needed Information and advice. II IL
assumed that the duties can DO performed
without Infringing upon the rights of any
citizen In "A manner that shall be- firm and nj
the same timo free from any unnecessary dis
play Of authority. Il Is not expected that
supervisors and deputy marshals Will receive
! compensation for more than five days service,
and they should 10 80 Informed. Within this
iimo all can be done, II Ia thought, that ought
| To he. You need yigilunt men, who are con
soientious workers, mud no others.
In this connection perhaps it will DO
well to inquire little more at length as
to what the so called force bill really
was. Every man who knows the facts
knows that it was little more than AN
extension to all tho people who want it
OF the laws for the prevention Of fraud
through government aid, which are now
enforced in the great cities ut all con
gressional and presidential elections,
These laws have proved themselves over
and over again wise aud judicious. II
is conceded ON all hands that they have
greatly reduced frauds and crime at the
polls and in the matter of registration
in great cities. And thinking people
who are hearing the cry against the
force bill are inquiring what'it is that
this privilege should not DO given to
people in the small towns and country
districts II they desire it.
What did the force bill really propos,
10 dot
First--To extend to the people Of the
whole country desiring it the privilege
of utilizing tho laws already in exist
ence for the prevention Of fraud through
properly authorized government official
clothed with power for that purpose.
Second-It made false registration o.
interference with registration crime.
THRIFT made bribery at elections
crime for the giver or the taler.
Fourth--It required the ballot boxe
/ to DO placed in such position as TO b,
easily accessible and easily distinguishe,
the one from the other,
, Fifth-lt made the rejection of lega
| Noltb VI hhV bNNNlNHiANN VI iiNbtA btlNh
? crime, or the placing of illegal ballots il
I boxes OF the unlawful removal OF lega
4 ballots from them crime. It mad
ballot box stealing or destruction or an,
neglect of duty by officers of the election
a crime
That was the sum total Of the provi
8 sions Of the 80 called force hill. PraC
tically all Of them were included In III
- law which President Cleveland ordere
his subordinates TO enforce.
II Is now serious question what tn
Democrats will find as an issue. Con
u missioner Peck destroyed their low tart
d issue by his report showing the remarl
able prosperity under the Mckinley Law
the free banking issue has proved so III
II popular that it has been abandoned, an
now with the force bill issue destroye
through the discovery that its use WI
recognized and authorized by Mr.. Cley
land while president there seems to
little ground for the Democratic oratoI
N fight upon.
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