The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-24
REGISTRATION LISTS.

GOmmlSSlOnblS III OANCAAhS NhC IL
vision of the present registration
lists for the forthcoming delegate
election, is the one which suggests
that the lists contain the names Of
persons who have been declared by
the Edmunds law ineligible to vote,
but who might vote nevertheless,
their names being on the list. The
same objection would have applied
with equal force had the list been
revised last spring, and will apply to
any list that can lawfully be made.
At whatever point the Commits
siOners come in with their registra-
ton officers they must of necessity
have taken up the list from the last
previous election. They have nc
authority to make a new regis ira
ton, any more than the assessors
would have had if the Edmunds bill
had not passed and things been left
as they were. In making their Wis.
itations to residences next sprir g
the Commissioners registrars will
have the same power that belonged
to the assessors to erase from the
lists the names of those who
have died, removed from the
precinct, or are otherwise dis
qualified" as voters of the precinct.
Just how the Information of dis
qualification will be arrived at, is a
matter for future consideration and
determination; the question cannot
figure at present, the revision this
fall being entirely different from
that to be made in the spring AS
stated OH Wednesday morning in
these columns, the election law pro-
vides ample means for purging the
lists. We presume there was never
a registration list on which did not
appear the names Of persons not
entitled to vote. 1t is not expected
that the Utah lists have been or
will be much purer than those
where a similar election law is in
force. But if there arises a ques-
ton as to the right of any name on
the list there is way provided for
determining the matter very read
lily, hence the grulnblerS should
make their complaints where they
will be effective, and not whine
when their protests can be of no
avail. If a man has enough inter
est in the election to be exercised by
pretended fears Of fraudulent vot-
ing, he ought to have the energy to
attempt the prevention of fraud,
when the attempt would
cost him so little effort.
AS remarked, a good many names
OF persons not qualified to vote,
under the new law, are on the
registration lists. They have been
since the lists were
made, hence it it no fault of theirs
that they are registered as voters.
They are guilty of no fraud or deceit.
Each was able to conscientiously
subscribe to the oath required in
order to be registered. They deny
the constitutionality of the act
which Observation-Disclosures them
without trial or conviction, and it is
quite generally understood that the
validity of the law will be
thoroughly tested in the courts.
At the same time it is hoped the
"diSfranchised" petsons, although
their names are on the registration
lists and stand unchallenged, win
not attempt at the coming election
to exercise the right to vote. Some
cases for tests may be made, but
there is too much at stake to run
the risk of voiding the election.
The territory has been with
out representation in the Forty
seventh Congress, and should
occur to void the Novem-
Der election, there could be no dele
gate from Utah in the Forty-eighth
Congress. A worse misfortune still
would be the throwing out Of sufi-
eient votes by reason of any consid-
cradle number Of disq qualified voters
exercising the franchise, to elect q
person who would misrepresent the
people at Washington. The wiser
policy, it strikes the HERALD, will
be for only persons to vote whose
night to do so cannot be questioned.
There are enough of these to elect
the choice and nominee Of the peo-
pie, and If this course be followed
there can be no defeat at the polls
or at the canvass Of votes; but if it
be not pursued. the violation Of the
disqualifying act, unjust and IN
constitutional as it may be Yill very
likely be seized upon as a ausible