Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-17
EnR nONESr ELErYuNS

FOR HONEST ELECTIONS,
IT is not probable that any action
will be taken by this congress on the
bin introduced by Representative Glib
son of Tennessee to prevent and pun
ish frauds in the election of representa-
tiycs and delegates to congress. but it
is possible that the next congress will
feel called upon to consider such Il
measure. The Gibson bill provides for
Furnishing all acts by registrars that
tend to defeat fair registration or de-
prvC Il voter of the benefits of rcgistra-
ton 1t prohibits the officer who pre-
parcs the official ballots from SO print
ing the names of the candidates as to
, mislead the voters. 1t Furnishes all
frauds committed by officers of election,
! either in holding elections or making IL
return of results. 1t also Furnishes all
| persons who in any way aid or abot
registrars or officers of election in per-
! petrating these frauds
The author of the bill says the rcpub-
| leans of the south want the election
| laws in that section honestly enforced.
Under present conditions it is imposSi-
BILE to put the criminal machinery of
the law in operation without prose
| cutorS and n public sentiment back of
the prosecutors. He thinks if eases of
fraud can be carried irfo the federal
courts as the bill provides for. their
trial will be an easy matter. The re-
| publicanS of Georgia and some other
states are moving for congressional leg
islation that will protect the republican
voters in the south from dishonest cleo
ton methods. \ Georgia republican
| leader declares that the registration and
election laws of that state are such
rs to render it impossible for many
| thousands of republicans to get their
votes counted. In Virginia an honest
election league composed of sound
money democrats has been formed,
which proposes to contest the seats
of the silver democratic cnnd-
dates for congress in several dis
tricts to whom certificates of election
have been given. 1t is alleged that in
these districts 10000 republican ballots
were rejected on one pretcXt or another.
upon technicalities that were trivial, al
though the intent of the voter was man
ifeSt. 1t is believed the evidence of
| fraud will be sufficient to Justify the
unseating of three of the Virginia dele
cation in congress. The league com
mittee which is collecting evidence
claims that Mckinley would have car
ried Virginia if there had been Il fair
election. In Il circular to the citizens
of the state the league says: mo I'M
biased citizen, whatever his politics may
he, can doubt that the majority of the
voters of this state, who exercised the
right of suffrage on election day. were
against Mr.. Bryan and the Chicago
| platform, and yet, by unlawful, IA
grant and corrupt practices of election
| boards, registrars and judges, the will
of the majority of the voters of Virginia
has been ruthleSsly overthrown."
That the allegations of fraud in mum
Der of southern states ut the presiden-
tial election are wcll-founded is unuues-
| tionable. Democrats as well us re-
publicans bear testimony to it. on
fair count Tennessec's electoral vote
would have gone TO Mckinley, as would
Nirginia's. BY fraud, also, Il number
of sound money candidates for congress
in those states We're defeated. Such Il
condition of affairs must be depl0red
by all good citizens. Ii is dangerous to
our political system and reproach to
the country. But can it be rcmedied
by legislation? Experience makes
negative answer to this question. We
have had practically such law as is
now proposed and fraud. corruption and
intimidation Were rs freely practiccd in
the south rs since its repeal. TO re-
enact legislation of that kind would per- |
hapS make matters worse instead of |
better. The only sure and permanent |
remedy will be found in educating pub |
lie sentiment in the south to the dis |
honorable and dangerous character of |
the election methods practiced there and |
perSuading the people Of that section |
that such methods are damaging to their |
interests. Progress has been made in |
this direction to an extent which en-
cOurnges the belief that continued elfor,
will ultimately bring about the desired |
result. 1t may be doubted whether
the Gibson bill will be approved by the
best Judgment of the country.
|
The publishers of the orld-Herald
continue in their attempts to bamboozle