The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-24
REGISTRATION FRAUD
THE VILLAINY LAID BARE,
The Mastery Effort by Hon. J.W Owens,
senator. From Licking County, in OPP
position to the Duncan Registration
Bill, III
rFrom tho Ohio Statesman, May 81

publican caucus measure which they had
decided to pass. This was denied on the
Republican side, and the Clerk was di-
rected to call the roll, ...-...- y.,..
Mr.. Owens, of Licking. said: I'll have
waited until the Clerk is on his feet to call
the roll in the vain hope Of hearing some
advocate Of this measure state his reasons
for desiring to enact it into law The
first articulate utterance of this nation
was, that, When in the course of human
events changes are to be made in the ex-
isting order of things, decent respect
for the opinion of others requires that we
state the reasons therefor, Why is it
that such an ominous silence is maintain
ed on the other side of this chamber? If
YOU are blessed with light on this subject
that is not in possession Of benighted
Democrat, do not, like an ungrateful
brother hide it under bushel. You
cannot ask US to excuse you on the ground
that modesty keeps you silent, for we have
patiently listened while your eloquence
absorbed too many thousand dollars
worth of time of this lengthy session of
the General Assembly but now when
YOU seek to enact law to deprive men
of the rights guaranteed them by the first
section Of Article V. of 0hio's Constitu-
tional law, some Senators say if it is not
constitutional it will do no harm. Let us
see to that. Ifyou pass this bill let your
Judge Of the election read section |, ar
ticle of the Constitution, then take this
registration law and read it, and ask
himself what shall l do if some man pre-
sents his ballot and can prove all that
the Constitution requires Of him as a vo-
ter, but has not registered as this law
requires. Think you the judges Of cleo
ton can successfully defend himself
against an action for damages by reason
of refusal to accept bis vote? Do you |
believe it to be your duty as legislators to
enact laws that will be snare to the
citizen? Pass this law and if be not
badly mistaken, each judge Of the eleC-
ton who is financially responsible for |
his acts will, as he takes his place of duty |
OIL election day, proceed to register his |
curses on the feeble. minded statesmen
who vote for this bill to become a law,
Lin common with every other good citi-
zen, desire, by every means possible, to |
preserve the purity of elections, but | de-
sire to bear witness that 0hio's citizens !
have too high reputation for honesty |
and honor to deserve the insult which
this law, if passed, will heap upon them.
Look at the bill itselfif you will. and then
tell me if by its terms am not justified
in saying that it offers more opportuni-
ties for villanies than protection to hon
esty.
The clear propositions Of the Bill are,
irst-That new Office is created, a Reg
lister, is to be paid for four days service,
twice or three times each year, in every
voting precinct in the State, costing the
people of Ohio a sum of money annually
greater than the entire amount paid to
members of both branches of the Gener
al Assembly. Second-Your Register is
a partisan, a member of the party in the
majority, from whom the people have
always most to fear again, if you seek
further the intent of This lay, look where
and how, and for how much, and on
whom it places penalties. By the terms
of section 6, if man makes a mistake as
to his age, even ifhe be beyond fifty years
of age, he may be fined $500 and impris-
onment six months That is the manner
in which it proposes to treat the citizen
but turn to section and you find if the
Register fciIs 10 perform his dHy-how gen
5ly this bill deals with him-he shall be
jd5le to penalty of one hundred dollars.
No imprisonment for him. Oh, no The ;
Register in your cities can enter into a
yrand conspiracy with your Eph Hollands, !
your Burns, from Chicago, your mike, j
The Bite" 10 thwart the will of the peo-
Die, to change the result ian election in
county, even in the State, and he, the
Register, shall go acquit for 500, and that I
perhaps paid out of the corruption fund |
n the hands OF your political executive
If Senators on the other
de of this chamber mean to pass this Q
ill, implore of you in justice to the t
people, and out of respect to the opinions c
# US who differ with you, be good en- 9
ugh to explain how it is if you mean q
in elections, that you have draft
ID and propose to pass this bill. By a
trict party vote the House Of Represen.
atives have voted down a bill by Mr..
Converse, bill drawn to prevent villainy
n high places; to prevent Villainy that !
,Verturns the election of States of the
lation villainy that in the year just past |
las brought us to the verge of civil war, l
# utter ruin-dargers that no good citi-
zen desire shall ever again be encounter.
ID. You, by your party vote, say you do I
lot want to enact law to prevent the }
lillainy, the fraud, the great and wicked s
2rimes spoken Of in this Converse bill. i
No law in Ohio punishes the crimes :
named in that bill, which reads as fol- i
OWs:
A bill to more effectually prevent fraud !
n the Canvassing of Votes and making |
Election Returns
SEC. /. Be it enacted by the General {
Assembly of the State of Ohio, that any !
udge or clerk at any election held in pur- 4
Iuance of laws of this State, who shall
make false count of the bal
OTIS, or shall knowingly make q false GER
,ifcate in relation thereto, or shall con-
zeal, suppress or willfully destroy any poll !
book, tally sheet or certificate made in !
pursuance oflaws, shall be deemed guilty :
If misdemeanor, and on conviction :
hereof, shall be imprisoned in the peni-
entiary, at hard labor, not more than !
hree years nor less than one year. :
SEC, 2. Amy justice Of the peace, clerk :
VI the court, deputy clerk, probate Judge, s
secretary Of state, president of Senate, !
governor, or other person charged with !
,he opening or canVassing of votes or re- i
,urns Of election, or making abstracts
hereof or counting or certifying such re-
turns deciding results, who shall conceal,
or knowingly destroy any such
election returns, or abstracts thereof, poll
book or tally sheet, or certificate Of elec-
ion, or who shall knowingly make false y
count Of such election returns, or know.
Ingly make any false certificate or alb
,tract, or who shall alter any sneh elee.