, 1875-02-05

THE REfIaTEY law

THE REGISTRY LAW.
It is announced in the dispatches from
Springfield tllet the bill repealing tho Regis.
try Inv Of this State has passed to third
reading IN the Senate, and TINT it will pass
both Houses Of the Legislature. There is
only ono way in which We can account for it.
It must be the intention of tic majority, con-
sisting Of Democrats and independents, to
put M end to fair elections in Chicago. Tile
members Of tho Legislature who live in small
towns and tho country districts should DO in
formed TINT tho Registry Inv alono assures
anything like fair election in large cities.
Here in Chicago, for instance, there il moth
ing like the ueighborhood acquaintance which
exists in rural and village communities wLcro
every voter knows ncarly every other voter in
tho district, md wleTo personal challenge
may be safely trusted to defeat tho exceptional
attempt that may be mat1o at fraudulent vot-
ing. There are twenty wards ia Chicago
md nearly 100 voting precincts in n general
election. That mnn is an old resident Of tile
precinct who knows by sight moro than
score or two other voters the grent majority
Of those who present themselves as votcrs ara
personally unknown to any challengers thnt
either party may supply. In half Of these
wartls, the pot-houso bummcrs Of the worst
description exercise an absolute control over
the Ignorant and vicious Glasses who compose
a large proportion Of tho inhabitants Of those
wards, and in all the wards more or less Of the
vicious elem ents nro found swarming around
tho polls. Under thorough Registry law,
there IL permanent means Of guarding, to
great extent, against tile danger Of repeating,
wlicl, the preponderance Of this desperate
and vicious class presents. Ilo registry list
is Il constant check. It affords always fair
Indication of tho number of votes tliat may
10 lawfully cast in the precinct. II gives
the challenger, who is personally unac-
qnainted with the voter who presents
himself, an opportunity to test hia
right to vote by ascertaining tho location Of
his residence, and thus tracing him back to
those who do know him. The fnil,,ro to
register involves the necessity of swearing III
the vote Oh election day, and this necessity
tlctera many from risking the danger of ap.
prohension who would otherwise cast illegal
votes The registry List also furnishesspecial
facilities for m investigation in contested
| elections, and likewise facilitates tho convic-
| ton Of those who have voted fraudulently.
In one word, registry system is the only
one that effectually prevents tho organization
Of bands Of reporters, and enables cities 10
bo governed by the respectable and honest
taxpayers when they aro in majority. Tho
Registry law Of Illinois is by no means III
thorough es 1t onght to bo, but to repeal it in
the cities would be to render popular election
in Chicago delusion and snnre.
II the Registry law be repealed. the thieves,
gamblers, pimps, roughs, and dwartl-bummcri
will Aayo the matter in their own hands.
They eau organize their repeaters, il thcro IN
no check upon tlaom, 60 that forty men, per-
laps not voters at all, may cast l 1000 ballots.
The honest, respectable, tax-paying oitizenH
may be 10000 in the majority and yet find
themselves Defeated when tho votes are
counted. This is the condition into which
tile Legislature will place Chicago by repenl.
ing tho Registry law. No honest member oi
either House, properly understanding tAt
real condition Of things will vote for the re.
peal. Andif tho repeal be made at last, and
aftor this Interpretation hns boen placed upor
II, IL WILL Do slWP!Y 1Ae cohsuMMatioh OF
corrupt political scheme for giving Chicago
over into the hands OF tho rowdy. dishonest
anadepraved classes. Chicago has now oil the
political ills it can bear, md its prosperity o.
city is too closely identified with TINT OF tit
State for the country members to dehberatel,
threaten us this calamity.
One Of the Eerious objections to changing
the Government Of Chicago from the specla
charter to tho general law is that, by a,
amendment to tho Registry law made las
winter, the cities holding election IN thE
spring under tho general charter arc releaset
from the obligation Of having registry lists
II this construction Of Inst winters amend
ment is correct, then the Citizens' Assoeia
} ton should include among its proposed
amendments to the general law Que requiring
,, the registration Of yotors. For, without this
all the advantages hoped to be attained unde
; the general charter will fail to compensst,
J for tie losa Of this check upon tho crimina
: and hummer classos on election day, and ",
: should still be In the power Of the worst o
} political kuavss. Tbs Legislature should
/ therefore, not only refuse to repeal the exist
: Ing Registry law, but It should pass IN 10
I uahlng II applicants to Ill municipal N.