Jackson advocate., 1947-03-01
In The Nations
Capital -.
BY Louis Lautier
For the NNPA News Service

The republican form of govern
ment guaranteed to every state by
the Constitution is endangered by
the kind of campaign Theodore G
Bilbo waged for nomination and
election to the United States Sen
ate. This danger is more immf-
nent in the light of the steps be-
| ing taken in Georgia and other
southern states to circumvent the
| Constitution and decisions of the
| United States Supreme Court by
depriving colored people of the
right to vote.
To carry out this guarantee and
to protect the integrity of federal
elections, Congress might well
consider the enactment of a fed
eral election law.
The Constitution provides that
'"The times, places and manner
of holding elections for Senators
and Representative shall be pre-
scribed in each State by the legis-
lature thereof; but the Congress
may at any time make Or altar
such regulations, except as to plac-
es of choosing Senators.
Interpreting this provision in
the Constitution, the Federalist
papers explained that the Con
stitutional Convention submitted
the regulation of elections o r
the Federal Government, in the
first instance, to the local admin
istrations, which in oodinary cas-
es, and when no improper view
prevailed, may be both more con-
venient and more satisfactory; but
they have reserved to the nation
al authority a right to interpose,
whenever extraordinary circum-
stances might render that impo-
sition necessary to safety
In accordance with the views of
the trainers of the Constitution
the conduct of federal elections
has been left for the most part
to the states. In 1870, Congress
adopted a comprehensive system
for dealing with Congressional
elections. 1t enacted laws pro-
viding extensive regulations for
the conduct of such elections.
These laws made unlawful false
registration, bribery, voting with
out legal right, making false re-
turns of votes cast, interfering in
any manner with officers of elec-
tion, and the neglect by any such
officer of any duty required of him
by state or federal law.
These laws also provide for
appointment by circuit judges of
the United States of persons to be
present at places of registration
and at elections, with authority to
challenge any person proposing to
register Or vote unlawfully, to
witness the counting of votes, and
to identify by their signatures the
registration of voters and cleo
ton tally sheets, and they made
it lawful for United States mar
shals to appoint special deputies
to preserve order at such cleo
tions, with authority to arrest for
any breach Of the peace committed
in their view.
After these laws were in effect
for twenty-four years Congress re-
pealed them with the exception
of a few sections.
In 1890, the late Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, who was then a
Representative. introduced a mea-
sure which became known as the
Force Bill. This measure proposed
to extend and perfect existing
laws in regard to the supervision
of elections of Representatives, so
that they would be effective where
ever the application of the law
would be demanded. It's purpose
was to insure fair and honest
federal elections.
The Force Bill provided that
chief supervisor would be appoint
ed by the circuit courts in each
judicial district of the United
States. On petition of 100 citi-
zens in a congressional district, or
in city of over 10000 popula-
ton, or county, the law would be
put into operation. Unless the citi-
zens desired the application of this
law, it would not be applied
Under the terms of the Force
Bill. the duties Of officers appoint
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