The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-03-09

The time for holding the Townshil

fourth THURSDAY IN APfh 40
thew will be held this year on the fourth
Thursday in May. The change was
made mainly to allow time for putting
the registration act into operation De-
fore the elections are held
The Importance of these. Township
elections has been generally uudervalued
by the people ofthe State, and they have
heretofore received much less attention
and awakened much less interest than
they should 1t is true that in the
choice of officers to merely attend to the
local concerns of the Township there
need be but little regard paid to the po-
litical opinions of the candidates, the
main question being to selectgood men
men who are competent for and faithful
in the discharge of the several duties inn
nosed upon them But some of the Off
GERS chosen at the Township elections
have duties assigned them by law which
partake, more or less, of political
nature, and, in relation to the candi-
dates for these Offices, it is eminently
proper that some degree OF attention be
paid to their political opinions The
Supervisors elected by the people of the
several townships constitute Board for
the administration of the general affairs
of the county, and are invested with
much power over the property and vel
fare of the citizens 1t is in their discre-
% ton to pursue course oppressive to the
people or Just to all classes, and, in many
of the counties, experience has proved
that Boards of Supervisors composed
entirely of Republicans have not used
their power for the benefit OfaN.
But a still more weighty reason why
the political opinions of the Supervisors
should be regarded in their election is
found in the fact that they sit, each in
his own township, as judges of the gen
eral election, upon which depends the
prosperity of the whole State. The fair
ness or unfairness manifested by the
Supervisor in receiving or rejecting the
ballots offered, frequently has the effect
of changing the result of an election
or of defeating the popular will. An
example Of this kind occurred in this
State last fall. The Board of Supervi-
sors in a certain county consisted of
seven members Four of these members
met after the election last fall and, in
the absence OF the remaining three, and
influenced wholly by partisan motives,
rejected from the election return enough
votes to give Office to the candidates who
had been defeated by the people, The
incident serves to show how bad men in
the Supervisors Office may encroach
upon the privileges of tho citizens, and
should teach us TO be careful in the Sc
lection ofgood men, men who will do
Justice 1--WE ask nothing more,) to the
whole people of the State
The Inspectors of Elections, possess
also no small degree of political power
Although two Inspectors are elected in
each towns hip, no voter is permitted to
vote for more than one candidate fc7
that office The intention of the law
is that one of the Inspectors shall be a.
member of each political party, but
sometimes, either through the negligence
of ore PARTY, or by the Numbers of the
other, both Inspectors are chosen from
the same party. This is matter that
should receive the attention of voters, in
order that the spirit and intention of the
law be fully carried out.
We mention these matters thus early
in order that our readers may lie think |
ing of these things and be fully prepaE-
ed, When the time for the township else. |
lions comes, to assert their rights and
obtain for the conservative men of the
State at least a fair proportion of the adj
vantage the Supervisors and Inspectors
of Elections afford
But there is one circumstance that
will make the Township elections this
Spring peculiarly important 1T the
election to Be held on the fourth Thursday in
merit May, fbc proposed amendment to the
constitution Of Ire SCte is to he rotcd Hpop
By the people. 1t will he the most im-
portant election that has been held in
the State since its organization. and its
result will vitality affect the welfare Of
the people The amendment is submit
ted at time when the friends of this
proscriptiyo measure hope that it may
be most easily adopted 1t is hoped that
the CALLING provisions of the Registra
tion Act then first enforced, will deter
many opponents Of the amendment
from complying with the Act aud
thus prevent them from voting. At the
same time. the township elections not
having heretofore excited much interest
or attention, the radicals hope that
they may be able to secure the adop-
tion of the amendment through the
apathy of its opponents.
But this quiet adoption of a measure
fraugbt with so much evil 10 the State
must moi be permitted. Ii behoov YES con