The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-10-22
McKINLEY'S FORCE BILL.
He Was Largely Responsible for Its Passage
In the House.

He Was Largely.RespOnsibl for Its Passage
In the House.
No measure passed by either house
of congress in recent times has met
with more severe and overwhelming
condemnation than what is known as
the force bill" 1t is difficult to con
ceive how one person could be more
responsible for its passage than was Mr..
Mckinley. Even in the house of rep
resentatives, through which it was
forced, the condemnation Of it was so
great and the sentiment against it so
strong, both among democrats and re-
publicans, that those in charge of the
business of the house despaired of sue
cess In passing Through the house ex-
cept by the adoption of a gag rule to
force its consideration. This could
only be done by the passage of rule
through the committee on rules. limit
ing both debate and amendments upon
its passage. The committee on rules
consisted of the speaker, Mr.. Reed,
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, and Mr.. Can
non, of Illinois, republicans, and
Messrs. Blount, of Georgia, and Nc
Millin, of Tennessee, democrats,
Speaker Reed and lIr. Cannon favored
the rule to force the consideration and
passage Blount and McMillin opposed
1T. Therefore, the balance of power
rested with Mr.. Mckinley, and he
could either compel its consideration or
defeat its consideration. He cast his
vote in favor of the rule, and helped to
put it and the force bill'' through the
house, and thereby assumed the re-
sponsibility of this obnoxious measure,
which sought to put federal force at the
polling places in the states in defiance
OF state laws which gave to the federal
courts power to appoint men to con
duct elections in the states agains,
state statutes, which took away from
the governors of the states the authori.
ty under certain circumstances tc
certify the members of congress elected
In their territory; and which forced
the clerk of the house of representative.
to disregard the governors certificate
OF election and place upon the rolls
men not certified by him, but men
who, in violation of state laws, and tn,
practice OF hundred years, were certi
fed by federal authorities. If the bill
had passed the senate and become ,
law, 1t would have subverted the gov
eminent and turned it over to tn,
federal courts.
But this is no new sentiment will
the distinguished candidate. Boil
troops and deputy marshals had beer
sent to the polls under law then OF
the statute books and it was condemned
by the masses Of thepeople. An amend
ment was offered and came to vote il
congress, in 1879, on the Sth day O
February, to bill then pending, pro
hibiting the use of troops at the polls
except ito repel the armed enemies O
the United States" and providing
penalty against disobedience to til,
law. On this salutary amendment tn,
yeas were ITO, nays 90.
Mr. Mckinley voted nay.
On February 10, 1879. proposition
somewhat similar to the foregoing
providing against the use of supervisor,
and deputy marshals to control cleo
lions, came before the house, On til,
passage of the bill the yeas were 145
3 nays III.
Mr.. Mckinley voted nay.
The provision of the army appropria
ton bill, prohibiting the use of troop
e at the polls, passed April 8, 1879. TIL
e vote stood--yeas 14s, nays 1879.
Mr.. Mckinley voted nay.
The bill was vetoed by the president
and on motion to pass it over his veto
Mr.. Mckinley again voted nay.
x On May 6 separate bill to prOhibi
S military interference at elections-t
e prohibit troops at the polls-was vote
;, on in the house. The yeas were 1875
nays 80.
" Mr.. Mckinley voted nay.
e 1t passed the senate, was vetoed b
'e President Hayes, and on May IS, ON
4 proposition to pass the bill, notwitl
. standing the veto, Mr.. Mckinley vote
nay.
: Do the people want their election
{, taken from the states and their ow
, officers and placed with the feder,
:. courts ?
These are the absolute facts, take
from the Congressional Record withor
4 one iota of coloring. Mr.. MeKinle
Is believed then, and no doubt believe
ID now, that the south needed disciplil
IS. inc