The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-08-23

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lrea dollars or be imprisoned in til
County Jail not exceeding sic month!
OF, both at the discretion of the court.
Section Z provides
"That the registers at least ten day
before any general election aforesaid
shall make an alphabetical list 70
their voting precinct of all person
registered" &C., &c.
The 10th subdivision of section
provides:
That all questions of the right t,
vote shall be heard and determined b.
the judges of elections. who shall re
quire at least the sworn testimony O
an electOr of the proper township o.
ward and kaOa0n to one OF more tn
Judges as 10 the truth of the statementI
of such person whose right to vo,.
has been chi .lIenged."
This is q monstrOus provision, strik
ing down the well-recognized and lon.
established rules for the production o
evidence in both civil and ciiInina
cases In all civilized countries. Thii
provision merits and will receive tn.
condemnation of all who love justice
and respect the rights of others. 1t,
Partially, injustice and infaIny has nc
parallel in the history of Ohio legisla
tiOn.
1t is in the brOadest sense favoritt
or class legislation, imposing upon 8
worthy class of our citizens the hard.
ship of procuring proof under u rule
that would disgrace the proceeding,
OF any court in the state.
1t disregards the standing and quail
iticaiions Of the witnesses who arc
called 10 testify in behalf of the either
whose vote has been challenged and
makes the admissibility of the testi.
mOny and qualification Of the witnes:
depend upon the TACT as 10 whether ht
is an eiectOr knOacn to one or more 0J
the .judyes of the election.
Fifty umimpeachable witnesses hav.
ing knowledge OF the controverteJ
facts and iuily competent to testify il
any other case before any court in the
state cannot testify to facts within
their knowledge in favor of the un-
fortunate man whose name is upon the
registered list if his vote be challenged
unless they are known to one or more
of the judges.
Again, it will be observed that all
persons who have not resided in the
county $50 days, and in the township
village or ward where they intend to
vote 355 days next proceeding the
election must register or be disfran-
chised I; more. he must register on the
very day fixed or he will be disiran.
chised.
This organizes the machinery by
which large number of our citizens
will necessarily be DISTINGUISHED at
every election under this law, while
its provisions have no application 10
or operation upon, a much larger class
who are especially favored.
1t is we'll known that large numb
OF our day laborers will fall under the
obligations imposed by this law
of them have no homes,
they ale obliged to move from place
to place as their employment calls
them. Thousands of this class are in
the constant employ of railroad COM
panies and other corporations, who, as
q matter of fact claim the right to use
and send their employees when and
where they please along their lines,
and they do it.
Let us see what wrongs may be i'm
posed upon this class Of laboring men
nnder the plea of necessity. Take the
coming October election as an illustra-
lion. All persons in the state who
are required to register must do SO on
Friday or Saturday, September 2lst
Dr. 22d, or be disfranchised.
Anything which prevents them
from appearing before the Board OF
Registrars zone of those two days
absolutely disfranchises them. Sick
ness disiranchises them. Amy una
voidable casualty disfranchises them.
A railroad company having the usu.
Il number of employees, say between
Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne, or be-
.ween Cleyeland and Columbus, or
and Cincinnati, or Ashtabu-
a and Toledo, or any other two points
n this state, happens to have some
very urgent work in an adjoining
county, township, village or ward, as
he case may be, along a given line. 1t
. necessary that the work be done on
,ne or both of the registration days.
O-wit: September 2lst and 22d, and
hose employees must do it or lose their
obs. Necessity compels them to obey
Il their pay be but meager sum ab-
'Olute necessity demands that it be
aved. Winter is coming and the
wolf is at the door. The very life aud
existence of the wife and children
hang upon that meager pittance to
Keep body and soul together. Shall it
De saved for the family at the expense
If disfranchisement. You know it
must be. Necessity demands it. Alb
'olute poverty demands it. Hungry
empty stOmachs, tattered rags
md shOelass feet at home demand it.
The urgent work is done, the employ
nent continued and tbs voter disfran-
:hised. These are the abuses that to
. greater or less extent will result
rom the execution of this law and
thousands OF honest electors will be
Ii the law was just its requirements,
obligations, restrictions and penalties
would apply to and operate upon all
classes alike.
The first and favored class nrovided