The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-09-17
ENGLAND'S FRANCHISE.
THOSE WHO EXPECT VOTES AND
THOSE WHO WILL GET THEM
The Now Revision Law u Matter for sori-
Gus Contemplation by Americans
England and Turkey Indo-
! pendence--The Young Tramp.

LONDON, Sept III, England Ia tho pollti-
cal Gland Of PROMISE The Liberals are
promising more than they can give, tho
Conservatives more than they intend 10
give. II will be Interesting therefore, 10
Examine the voting machinery by which,
under the engineering OF the revising bar
sister, "Pers Blowman, and his city cousin,
"Algcrnon the counter jumper" are recelv.
Ing the net results Of past political promises
as TO enfranchlsement. Great has been tho
excitement among all CLASSES at the vastly
increased numb.r OF ignorant voters which
II was supposed tho Revolutionary Fran
chlse bill Of last session would place upon
the voting lists Yet, technically, the "clty
endn OF London, which last year had 20, 900
registered voters, will this year have little
over twenty-seven thousand names on its
voting lst-a result not due, however, to a
lack Of applicants for enfranchlsament, for
In single building 200 clerks were last week
refused registration.
In England at largo a stupidity wordod-
or else an ndroitly woIded-soction OF tho
franchise Gct Is likely 10 reduce the number
Of new voters from the expected two million
and half 10 about million in the coming
election, Judges on the subject claim that
not more than 1--WE hundred thousand now
names will ultimately appear on tho now
lists. These will, moreover como from tho
agricultural districts, because tho extension
10 tho country at largo OF tho lodge fran
chlse will be ono OF real value while tho
ctlos and towns will only slightly benefit
byit
Take the city Of London for an example
Of tho English methods OF registration, In
the south court room OF the fine old Guild
hall Mr. Octavius John Williamson, bar
ristor.at- law, sits daily In tho full judicial
glory OF wig aud gown. Two pows In front
OF Mr.. Williamson are filled with lawyers
paid by the Liberal and Conservative organ
lEations They know the political faith Of
each applicant for the franchise, aud obstruot
or hurry alone his claim accordingly. Tho
usual jury boxes are filed with tho oldest
residents and other standard authorities on
parish aifaira Tho dock, usually reserved
for criminals Is now vacant-kopt, II Ia pro
sumod from various remarks OF defeated APP
pllcanta, for tho man who drafted the Fran
chiso bill.
The list Of applicants for registration has
beon printed by each parish, Copies OF
these lists Ito boforo each lawyer aud before
Mr.. williamson A namo IL called, and
when tho qualifications or objections arc
stated tho matter Is argued. Mr., William.
son suminarily decides whether 70 retain or
Oraso the nam, and another namo Ia takon
up. Tho woud.bo voters seldom appoar In
person. but thoy Sond friend, who states
their case, according 10 tho advice received
from their party lawyer Such n man may
represent several hundred mon forming a
cla@ slm'arly situated, aud accordingly tho
revising barrlators decision In ono caso
makes a tost case for tho roSt
An an instance, two hundred clerks ein.
ployed In groat city wholesale house alocp
Ia somo barracks owned by mombOr Of
the firm. They applied for registration
through ono OF their number II happens
that mombor OF this firm lives outside
London and, for his convenience, has bod
room In these barracks, but only once or
twice has IL boon used by him, Tho oxlst'
onco OF tuls bedroom on tho promises oocu'
pied by tho employees OF his firm, reduces
however, those two hundred clorka, In tho
oyo Of tho law, 10 domestic servants, They
were, therefore, refused permission 10 vote
on tho lodgor franchise
Five servants OF tho lord mayor applied
for registration. Throo aloop In tho Man
plon House, They are, therefore, refused
yotos Two sloop elsewhere on thor own
promises and aro allowed, 10 register. Tho
two who register arc comparatively ignor.
ant while tho thrOo who cannot vote arc
botier educated. About sixty pcr cont OF
tho applicants for registration arc refused
yoloa on account OF similar toohnicalitioa
Among other classes excluded from rcgis-
tralIon by tho new bill aro the resident man.
agors aud attendants OF all aayuma, whilo,
curloualy enough, officers and mon residing
IN barracks aro given votoa, Ono school
maslor registers by Virtue OF his residence In
achoolroom.
Mr.. Williamson gavo tho bono0t OF his or
pcrlonco. no saidi "Thlu registration, tho
most important OF many years past, will DO
finished before the Legal limit October 8, IN
the city registration book has boon more
perfectly kopt than In other districts Tho
class much bcnoattod In my district by the
rocont change IN tho oork class, Laborcra
have gained little by tho now law, There
has boon no oaroloamoas herein tho making
up OF tho books aud but fow will loao thoir
votoa Mo now votes arc far from import
ant, IN this district NJ lcost for thcy arc
pretty equally divided In their political
fath,n '
Itls 10 bo noted that considerable ma.
jority OF tho challenges are made by tho
Conservatives This givoa q hint na 10 what
Tho politicians think OF the now votcrs.
While decidedly dofonalyo as n whole, IN
many particulars the now registration laws
have az lcast swept away tho old abuse by
which some favored mortals could vote threo
tlmoa- namely, by residence, by city
living mans right and by university follow.
ship-l-all over tho kingdom, The revising
bairIators act with precise techncality.
Three brother barristers registering by
mistake from chambers In the Middle Tenn
plo instead Of In tho Inner Tcmplc lost their
rights 10 vote In this case the wlcldefs'
technical eworda were destroyed by tholr
own accustomed weapon.
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