The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-01-28
For the I Temocratic Press.
Students Voting Law

.
, Perhaps the fairest opportunity ever
E given to students to make themselves
ridiculous, was occasioned by the re-
cent wise and proper law defining
their residence and place of voting
i Certainly, they have taken the fullest
/. advantage of the opportunity thus Of
Il fefed. They have petitioned the leg
i islature, called indignation meetings
and written any amount Of trash fol.
the newspapers. Scarcelya one horse
College in the State but has achieved d
cheap and ephemera1 fame by its thun-
dering preamble and scathing resolu-
tions. Now that the elections are over
they may consent to notice the reasons
our legislators had in framing the law,
and how little sense has been in all
their opposition. For the past two
months every Republican in the coun-
try, large, enough to say fraud has been
repeating it in all its variations until
quite number of them have come to
The belief that the November election
was only one vast :" fraud" We do
not object to this; it gives the poor
fellows new word. Copperhead is
nearly worn out-and is therefore
commendable. But we do object to
their claim of being opposed to fraud
ulept voting. 1t is absurd. One of
the most prolific sources of fraud was
the old custom of permitting every
person to. vote who was away from
home, attending school, provided only
that he should say, OF if called upon.
swear ly'ea that he was of the proper age.
One instance in the practical working
of this will suffice: In the Fall of '65
a large crowd of the Republican stu
dents atHiram went over to the polls
to cast their first vote. No doubt, thew
were highly impressed with thoughts
OF their obligations (?); students are
apt to be on such occasions. A chal-
ienging party at the polls promptly
did his duty, and the students all |
$ sWore in ;" their votes. Nearly two
years passed and one of these same
'sGod and morality "R voters, being
Called upon to pay debt he had con-
fracted, Score and proceed that he was
not even then 81 years Of age ?iA very !
several other cases of similar {
'lfaracter have occurred at the same
place, but are not yet developed. It
IS weli-known fact that, during the
var, in many regiments every one.
regard TO age, claimed and
'xercised the fright of suffrage. WKer- a
'Ver large numbers of young men are
thoughts of manly obiiea! /
ION come very slowly upon them.-- :
There is good deal of hu1nbug in /
ooking upon College students as a set
# well acting, harmless, parson-like
oung men. ] do not believe in cheap .
nllfg TOO much the right of suffrage. T
S making-its Importance appear in +
ignificant, the expense, time and trou- n n,
ie required in going home where it is al al
noWn whether or not he is entitled N
a vote will be an excellent prepara- s.
ion for the young man, and inspire 50
i'm with some regard for his new dig
ity. A business man whose yoca-
on calls him to different parts of the n
tate, is nevertheless allowed to vote wi
My at home. Why should bow at
'hool have greater facilities to cast his !,
ote that man at Nvork The truth ca
, College boys haven't practical SUBJ =
cts enough to occupy their attention /,
nd the law was Godsend to their thu
'cieties and newspaper correspon- +
ents; / do not believe that any of
em ever seriously doubted its wis Da
'm. lit has hitherto been, whore our p1
rger Colleges are located that ifall l.
c students united on any measure as
lie man they could control local mat
rs in which they had no interest r.
hateyer. This at least, is now pre-
nted, and students are enabled to We
u whether g their residence is. at &c.
- Oo the
me or ut school. tioi
COLLEGE STUDENT. rec'
II Tram, Ohio. A