Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-04

,yrnNrsDAY. OCTOBER 4, 1871.
The Texas Election.


Tho peoplc of Texas began, yesterday, voting
for members of Congress. Four members are
70 he elected. and the voting will he continued
through several days. The governor of the
state has taken measures 10 have this election
made as fair and honest as possible. There,
fore certain regulations to prevent interference
with voters and make the polls free and safe,
have been established and Will be enforced,
Those in Texas who are accustomed to malTeat
colored voters, and use rowdy demonstrations
against timid republicans, will not easily make
themselves masters of the situation anywhere, il
these regulations are fully carried out. Usually,
armed bullies, there as elsewhere at the south,
have sought TO crowd the polls, surround the
ballot boxes, command all avenues Of approach
and scare away as many colored voters and re-
publicans as possible. Kukluxism, in the
south, is well organized and has many occupa-
lions. We look with some interest TO see wheth-
er the governor of Texas will be able to keep it
under proper restraint. His measures aim to
secure the following protection of the polls:-
1. Voters will be kept from crowdng the vot-
ing places after the kuklux fashion. They are
required so deposit their ballots with the least
possible delay; and, after this is done, they are
forbidden under any pretext to remain about the
polls or at the county seat (unless this is their
residence) during the election"
?. The regulations ordain that "all persons
are forbidden to shout, ieer at, or in any way in
suit or annoy voters or candidates for Office dur
INC the registration and election" Those who
have seen kukluxism at a southern election,
can understand what this means.
3. One regulation reads as follows
can gathering, combination, or assembling of
persons in numbers at or near the county seat
during the time registration is being made, or
the election is going on, and for the purpose of
iniimidating voters. is forbidden, and should any
such gathering combination, or assembly take
place in any county, it shall be presumed that
the same is for said purpose Of intimidating
voters whatever might be alleged by such per-
sons as the preteXt thereof, and peace officers,
state guard, and militia on duty in such county,
are directed to dIsperse such persons
4. Finally, no person shall be allowed to sell
or give away Intoxicating liquor, by day or by
night, during the election, within two miles Of
the ballot box; and the carrying of arms is
positively forbidden, while the election is going
on. The governor holds that drunkenness and
shooting affrays are wholly unsuitable at such
a time. He is right; and it is not easy to see
that they can deserve encouragement or tolera-
ton on any occasion.
The New York World don't like these regula
tons, and assumes that they will not allow thu
democrats to have "a fair vote" 1t is singula
that il should fail to see what its complaint i'm
plies. Under these regulations, every voter cal
90 TO the ballot box, freely, and the election viii
not be controlled by kukluxsm. Is it thi
which disturbs the World? That journal is al
ways much disturbed when measures are takel
to put the kukluX fraternity under restraint
Does it hold that the democrats can not have g;
fair vote" in the SOUTH unless this bloody fra
ternity shall be permitted to create pande
monium at every voting place and decide who
shall act as voters2 The regulations aim TO Sc
cure order and fair play, and we hope they will
be rgidly enforced. The World would do bet
ter to content itself with what comfort it can
derive from the fact that two miserably foolish
republicans are running as independent can
didates in two OF the Texas districts.