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

consideration, TO the acL1On OF the
Commissioners in ordering the re-
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
some 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 regisLra-
tiOn officers they must Of necessity
have taken up the list from the last
previous election. They have no
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 spring
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, tie 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. It 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
ly, hence the grulnblerS should
make their complaints where they
PILL be effective, and not whine
when their protests can be of no
vail. If a man has enough inter
st in the election to be exercised byi
,retended fears Of fraudulent yot-
ng, he ought to have the energy to
TEMP the prevention of fraud,
specially when the attempt would
ost him so little effort.
AS remarked, a good many names
f persons not qualified to vote,
Inder the new law, are on the
lists. They have been
disqualified since the lists were
nade, hence it it no fault of theirs
hat they are registered as voters.
hey are guilty of no fraud or deceit.
Zach was able to conscientiOusIy
ubseribe to the oath required in
rider to be registered. They deny
he eOnstitutionality of the act
Which ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS them
Without trial or conviction, and it is
ute generally understood that the
ability Of the law will be
thoroughly tested in the courts.
It the same time it is hoped the
disfranehised" petsons, although :
heir names are on the registration :
SITS and stand unchallenged, will
OF attempt at the coming election
exercise the right to vote. Some
ases for tests may be made, but
here is too much at stake to run
lie risk of Welding the election.
he territory has been with
1T representation in the Forty
'venth Congress, and should
lything occur to void the Novem-
sr election, there could be no dele
tie from Utah in the Forty-eighth
Ongress. A worse misfortune still
Ould be the throwing out Of stuff
ent votes by reason of any consid- :
able number Of disqualified voters Z
the franchise, to elect a
'rson who would misrepresent the i
'opIe at Washington. The wiser !
,licy, it strikes the HERALD, will
for only persons to vote whose
ght to do so cannot be questioned. .
here are enough Of these to elect =
e choice and nominee of the peo-
e, and if this course be followed r
ere can be no defeat at the polls
at the canvass of votes; but if it
not pursued, the violation of the
squalifying act, unjust and IN
as it may be, will very q