The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-09-04
REPUBLlCAN INTIMIDATION
ff AND BRlBERK.
The way They Favor an Homes
Ballot In KhoAe, Island.

III AND BRIBE1K.ssss sss.s...
The way They Favera an Honest
Daiiet In RheAe leland.
The ub-Committee Of the Senate
which has been sitting st Providence,
RE-, acting under the Blaine res0ln-
ition Of December, 1873, creating tle
Teller Committee to inquire Hwhether
the right Of suffrage, was denied or
abridged in any State" and /" whether
it is within, the competency of Con,
gress to provide by additional 'legis-
lation for the more perfect security of
tho right of suffrage to citizens Of the
United States in all the States" has
completed its investigations. The Re-
publican politicians profess to be in
favor of every citizen being entitled
to one vote and that in the free, fair
and full exercise of that rightthe shall
be protected by the Government of
the United States. Bnt this right has
not been recognized in Rhode Island.
The investigation shows: sBs
The constitution of Rhode Island
contains clause, which .disQualifies
foreign. born naturalized citizens from
voting unless they own $l34 worth Of
real estate clear of incumbraIce. The
registry laws of the State do not allow
foreigners TO register without owning
real estate. Owners of real estate
need not register, but native born citi-
zens and negroes who do not own
property which is taxed 81 or upward
must register and pay. 81 tax before
they can vote. At the State census of
1875 the native-bern population was
1856 600; native-born voters, 81, 600, or
one in every Eve. The foreign born
population was 1000, foreign-born
voters qualified, to vote BY owning
real estate, 5.a0Q. or one in every four
teen" ...s-.......-..5. 1ss...ss.......:
Thus from 5000 to 10000 natural
lied citizens Of the United States are
denied thesright to vote. 1t. is fur
ther shown that during the war, in
order TO furnish the States quota citi /.
sens 81 foreign birth who should en-.
list in the army were promised the
franchise, but this promise has never
been fulfilled. F,..s5 ~ s. ssssi
Dut uOk Ouly 0E0 u0SuE0tiZ0u CltiZcuS
denied the ballot but the Republicans
have added afes stsy., Ey.s,..
INTIMIDATION AND BRIBERY
to enable them to hold the power in
that State which should cause the
blush of shame to mantle their cheeks
when they talk about their party being
the champions of "honest elections" !"
We copy below a small portion of the
testimony taken before the sub.cem-
mittee on this subject: asf
d. B. Pond-Familiar with elections
in Woonsocket have seen agents of
corporations come to the polls with
their men one man resigned his place
to avoid being turned out for his polit-
ical action have seen agents of Harris
Woolen Company and Social Compa-
ny bring their men to the ballot box /;
they are Republicans some of the
men Democrats; some of the men
asked for ballots the night before SO
az to be able to vote without being
found out by their employers; suspect
money used at every election.
N. r. Verry-Woonsocket; haye
seen Republican employers take Dem
ocratic employees to the polls have
seen chips (faro bank tokens) pf. ivory
| in circulation on election day two or
three men were distributing them Who