Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-14
THE FIRST GUN.
Election Law Debate Commenced
in the Senate.
CULLOM USES VIGOROUS LANGUAGE.
lie Provokcs senator mn by AiIusion to
New York Polit cs stewart Follows,
but Soon Drifts Into the FInan-
clal Question.

WAsuNGTON, Dee. H.. The first gun
Of the inevitable parliamentary battle
In the senate upon the question of the
repeal of the federal election laws was
fired yesterday by senator Cullom, of
Illinois. senator stewart of Nevada,
In u short speech, advocated the repeal
of the election laws and incidentally
gave expression to some of his well
known financial views
The resolution calling upon the pres
idcnt FOR additional in 'ormntion in the
Hawaiian matter was laid over until
to-day in order that Mr. Frye, of Maine,
might submit some remarks.
After the morning business senator
Cullom spoke on the federal elections
bill. lie reviewed the legal questions
involved in federal supervision of cleo
lions, taking the broad view of the con.
stitutional power Of the general govern
ment % regulate elections for federal
offices. at Is" he said state rights and
state sovereignty ~ against and above
the power Of the United States. Shall
elections of senators and representa-
tivcs In congress be subject alike to the
frauds and outrugcs of the judicial ruff
fans and the ward bullies? Shall the
mandate of II corrupt judge, the order
of n Maynard, determine the complex
ion of n legislature which elects n SEN
ator to this body? Shall the Drawn
aud muscle of u McKane, In defiance
Of courts and laws control next year
the election of u representative in con.
greSs, and congress have no power To
protect by law the integrity of its own
membership?
"ln other words is there to be nc
power In the hands of congress by
which II may maintain, in IA degree,
the integrity and purity of the deter
minntion of its own membership, or
must it he ever subject to tn, frauds
and wrongs which state laws have
failed to prevent? AS u republican
would much rather have such system
of laws, meant and intended solely for
the proper protection of the honest
and Legitimate voter, even II
every official agency for their en-.
forcement shall be of the democratic
party. ] have not so lost faith in
American citizenship as to believe the
sworn officers OF any political party
will porsistently ignore the require.
ments Of wise and just election laws.
Better such u system, by whomsucver
II may no administered, than to he
without law and without hindrancc to
the criminal acts of the vicious and de-
PRAYED class"
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Cul-
| "a ffualFnl hA ~
and especially Isaac II, Maynard the
defeated candidate for Judge This
brought Senator Hill to his feet and a
long dialogue was begun.
lis the senator aware of the fact, n
asked Mr., Hin, that the election case
10 which he refers would not have con,
trolled the senate of the state Of New
| Norll?"
"lf the senator proposes 10 Justify
that action" said Mr.. MeCullom, "by
the declaration IL would not have con.
trollei the politics of the New York
senate, ] regard IL rs not sufficient
question TO be asked In this case, be-
cause II was u crime, whether or not II
controlled the senate, the senator
ought not TO justify It, nor should any
other man"
| Mr. Cullom then went on with hi
speech, referring to the pulling dowI
of the American flag at Hawaii, which
could not have been accomplished by
NIL the power Of monarchical Europe
but which had been committed by tn,
order OF an American president upor
the advice and recommendation Of ,
newly baptized democratic secretar,
OF state" Laughter
Mr. Stewart Of Nevada, then nd
dressed the senate in favor OF the re.
peal Of the federal election laws lie
soon drifted into discussion of tn,
financial question, and attributed tn,
evils complained Of TO the gold stand
ard During his speech, at the suggas
ton OF Mr.. PETER the roll was called
and forty-eight senators responded.