Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-09-29

results from this conference, which will
now soon assemble. When the result of
the conference is known we shall then be
able, intelligently to readjust our financial
legislation to any new conditions.
THE GERRYMANDER.
In my last annual message to congress I
said that l must yet entertain the hope that
1t Is possible to secure a calm, patriotic
consideration of such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary to
secure the choice of the officers of the gov
eminent to the people by fair apportion-
mentS and free elections. [ believe that it
would be possible to constitute commits
sion, nOn-partlsan in its membership and
| composed OF patriotic, wise and impartial
men to which the consideration of the
question OF the evils connected with our
election systems and methods might be
committed with good prospect OF secur-
ing unanlmlty IN some plan for removing
or mitigating those evils. The constitu-
ton would permit the selection of the COM
mission to be vested in the Supreme court
if that method would give the best guar
anty of impartiality. This commission
| should be charged with the duty of inQulr
| ing into the whole subject of the law of
elections as related to the choice of officers
OF the national government with view
to securing to every elector free and UNI
mOleSted exercise Of the suffrage and rs
near an approach to an equality of value
In each ballot cast as is attainable. The
demand that the limitations or suffrage
shall be found in the law and only there is
| a just demand, and no just man should re-
sent or resist it. 1t seems to me that an
appeal to our people to consider the queS-
ton of readjustng our legislation upon
absolutely fair non-partisan lines might
find some effective response.
UNFAIR ELECTION METHODS.
Many times have had occasion to say
that laws and election methods designed
to give unfair advantage to the party max
ing them would some time be used to per
peJuate in power faction of party
against the Will of the ma jOrlty of a people.
OF this we seem to have an illustration in
the recent state election in Alabama.
There was no Republican ticket in the
| field. The contest was between white
Democrats. The Kolb party say they were
| refused the representation guaranteed by
law upon the election boards; and when
| the courts by mandamus attempted to
right this wrong. an appeal that could not
be heard until after the election made the
writS Intellectual Ballot boxes were
thrown out for alleged irregularities. or
destroyed, and it is asserted on behalf of
| one half, at least, of the white voters of
| Alabama, that the officers to whom certi
| ticateS have been given were not honestly
elected. There is no security for personal
| or political rights. The power of the
states over the question of the qualitica-
| ton of electors is ample to protect them
| against the danger of an ignorant or de-
F, PRAYED suffrage, and the demand that every
| man found to be qualified under the law
shall be made secure in the right to cast a
| free ballot and to have that ballot honestly
| counted cannot be abated. Our old Re-
| publican battle cry, "a free ballot and a
| fair count" comes back to us, not only
| from Alabama but from other states and
| men who differ with us widely in opinion
have come to see that parties and political
debate are but mCckery, IT, when the de-
bate is ended, Judgment of honest MAORI
| ties is to be reversed by ballot box frauds
and tally sheet manipulatiODs in the inter-
est OF the party or party faction in power.
| These new political movements in the
states and the action of some of the state
courts against unfair appOrtlOnment laws
encourage the hope that the arbitrary and
| partisan election laws and practices which
have prevailed may be corrected by the
states the law made equal and non-parti-
san and the elections free and honest.
The Republican party would rejoice at
such solution, as healthy and patriotic
local sentiment is the best assurance OF
free and honest elections. | shall again
urge upon congress that provision be made
for the appointment OF non partisan COM
mission to consider the subject of appOr
LlOuUlclJS duO clCCIlOuS III tHtl1 ActdIlOu
to the choice OF a federal officer.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service system has been ex-
tended and the law enforced with vigor
and impartiality. There has been no
partisan Juggling with the law in any of
the departments or bureaus as had before
happened, but appointments to the CLASH
fled service have been made imDartlally
from the eligible lists The system now IN
i,,a r bo ri rty has for 70 first
time placed promotions strictly upon the
basis of merit, as ascertained by daily
record and the efficiency OF the force is
thereby greatly increased.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Approval was heartily given by the con-
yentiOn to all whose agencies which con-
tribute to the education OF the children of
the land, and meets my hearty approval,
as does also the declaration as to the
liberty of thought and conscience and
separation of church and state. The safety
of the republic is in intelligent citizenship,
and the increased interest manifested in
the states in education The cheerfulneSS
with which the necessary taxes are paid
by all classes and the renewed interest
manifested by the children IN the national
flag are hopeful indications that the COM
ing generation will direct public affairs
with increased prudence and patriotism.
Our interest IN free public schools open to
all children of suitable age is supreme and
our care for them will be jealous and con-
slant. The public school system, however,
was not intended to restrain the natural
right of the parent, after contributing to
the public school fund, to choose other
educational agencies for his children.
FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS.
l favor aid by the general government
to the public schools, with special view
to the necessities of some of the Southern
states. But it is gratifying to notice that
many of these states are. with commend
able liberallty, developing their school
systems and increasing their school
revenues to the great advantage OF the
children of both races.
WORK FOR THE FARMERS
The cOnsiderate attention of the farmers
of the whole country is invited to the work
done through the State and Agricultural
departments in the interest OF agriculture.
Our pork products had for ten years been
nearly excluded by the great continental
nations of Europe. All efforts to secure
the removal of those restrictions had failed,