The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-09-14
THE FORCE BILL ELECTION LAW.

Federal Congress in 1890 ebdeayored
to enact law, the chief feature OF
which, was TO place Federal soldiers
at all the polling places in tho eoun-
try. The South arose almost I'm
HAssE, aud with vehement and indig-
nant language the press denounced
aud condemned the measure as one
aimed at the suppression CT the
rights add liberties Of the Southern
people.
They argued that Federal inter
ference in elections was gross and
damnable iniquity which no free
people would tolerate; and it will be
remembered, that through the in
strumentality largely Of few West
ern Senators, who defed their party
on the question, the Force Bill was
defeated.
But we wish, in this article, to
direct the attention of all honest,
fairminded, liberty-lovine people OF
North Carolina to the ub just, unfair,
iniquitions and infamous Force
Bill Election Law that was placed on
the statute books by the last Demo
cratic Legislature.
Numerous features of the law are
unfair and partisan in the extreme
but there is one section of this law
that will arouse Indignation of all
people who love justice and fair
dealing.
This section provides that the
registrars and judges of election
may appoint ~ many election con-
stables or bailiffs, not to exceed three
as they may deem necessary for each
precinct or ward, to be present dur
ing the election to keep the peace
and to protect the voting place, md
TO prevent improper intrusion upon
the voting place or the booths or
rallied or ropCd space provided III
this act, or Interfering with the
election, and to arrest all persons
creating any d sturbanee about the
voting place, and to enable all per-
sons who have not voted and wno
desire to vote to have unobstruc.ed
access tosthe polls for the pursose Of
voting when others are not voting
and to keep clear the open space
hereinbefore provided at all times
during the election. 1t shall be the
duty Of the election constables or
bailiffs to be present at the voting
place and to take such steps as will
accomplish the object of their APP
pointment, and they shall have full
power to do so. And they may sum
mons to their aid all persons present
at the voting place and may arrest
offenders against this section and
hold them in custody as long as may
be necessary, not to exceed twenty
four hours.'
We have quoted the above section
from the election law so that the
voters of the State may see it, study
1T, anaiyze it, and thoroughly &C
quaint themselves with the hellish
power that is conferred on these cleo
ton "constables" to deprive and rob
the masses of their rights and
liberties.
There was storm Of abuse hear ped
on the Northern men In Congress
some years ago for their efforts to pass
q Force bill, but we never expected
to see the day, that some of the sa me
men tere in North Carolina who
were so rehement and vigorous in
their dununciation of the Force Bill,
would themselves place "constables"
at the polls to INTIMIDATE FREE
MEN under the pretext of preserv-
ing law and order. And these
"Consta bles" have absolute and un-
TINTED power, and if they see fit
can have a good-szed army at the
polls to Overawe, intimidate and
coerce the voters. Is this grand old
State that first stood for liberty,
for justice and for independence
ready to see the peoples liberties
ruthlessly tlampled upon in such
mannerP
We say emphatically that the peo-
pie of North Carolina will never SUBJ
NIT to the domination of any ring
or machine such as will attempt to
deprive them of their rights.
We want no Force Bill Elect on
Law in North Carolina!
Let the people remember that
eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty"