The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-18
THE KENTUCKY ELECTION.
Interference of Federal Marshals May
BE Inquired Into.

Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore SUM
Washington, Nov. 16-Severai times
during the last days Of the political cam
paign in Kentucky dispatches We're sent
from that State indicating extreme dc
tivity ON the part of the United States
Marshal and his deputies. 1t was an
nounced the United States Marshal YVES
determined to have fair election; that
he had hundreds of warrants rea ~ to be
served and his deputies would be on hand
at the polls. No little surprise was cX
cited here by this intelligence, as 10
one could imagine what authority Fed
eral officials had to interfere III purely
State election. Doubt was expressed a.
to the reliability of the ann )Ihcement.
This doubt is dispelled by the kilograms
received today containing the charge To
the grand jury of Kenton county Of
Circuit Judge Tarvin. The iul:se, after
reciting the presence of Uuitsd States
Marshals on election day and their Oh
struetiOm of and interference with Il
State and city election denoun ."d snch
conduct in the strongest possible terms,
and said plainly the people would have
been perfectly justified in shooting them
down. He said they had no more right
to be there than the officers % (1leat
Britain. France or Germany. He called
upon the grand jury to indict not only
these officers. but also the Governor or
the State for his completely in their ac-
tions. So far as the legality Of the
acts OF these Federal officials are con-
cerned. the views of Judge Taryin are
pronounced to be entirely correct by com
potent authority here. On inquiry being
made by the Sun correspondent at the
Department Of Justice, it was said The
Department had no knowledge whatever
OF the circumstances beyond what had
appeared in the newspapers, and had
issued no instructions TO the Uniteo
States Marshal in Kentucky.
A high official of the Department add
ed that while he did not know, he pre-
stmed the United States Marshal had
proceeded under certain sections of the
old Kukux laws of 1S70-'71, which were
left unrepcaled when Congress under-
took to wipe off the election laws. But
this il rather far-fetched. as a reading
of the sections in question show The
Kentucky marshal put very forced
construction upon them to justify his
interference. Irrespective of what the
Kentucky judicial authorities may do
it is understood the Kentucky Congress
men win ask for the institution of an in
quiry into the subject or the assembling
of Congress. There is no vestige of a
Federal election law now on the stat
ute books. and if the course of the mar
shall in Kentucky and his deputies is to
pass without rebuke or redress, he may
have numerous imitators in other South
ern States in the Presidential election
next year. This would unquestionably
lead to the most grave and serious conse-
quences.
Apropos of this whole subject. it has
been currently talked in Republican c,r
cles here since the election that very
determined attempt will be made at The
next session of Congress to enact
new Federal election law of a more stIn-
gent character than the former law.
The design would be to pass it in time
for use in the Presidential election. and.
as heretofore, its operations would he
practically confined to the Southern
States and New York city There is
not much trouble apprehended in rail
roading such bill through the House.
and if the rule of the caucus can bring
the Republican majority in the Senase
into line, its passage through that body
would only be a question of time 1t is
thought, however, there may be safi.
cient conservatism on the Republican
side of the Senate to defeat the PROPOSE
tj0n