The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1885-02-28
THE PROPOSED REGISTRY LAW.

been practiced. Our election law IS 50
loose that almost any kind of reprehen'
sible game can be played BY the adherennts
of either political party with impunity
Without registry law, requiring the pro-
per registration of men who are entitled to
vote, everything conceivable can be sue
cessfully rung in on the day of general
election The nomadic tramp, with
greasy blanket on his back, by little elias
tic swearing, can shove in vote and neu'
tralize the vote Of an honest citizen and
permanent resident of Montana. The re-
peater can hop from one ward or precinct
| to another and vote and repeat withoutrun-
ming much danger of being caught. Hordes
of transient men can be temporarily colo
nized in a county to be used on election
day. Poll lists can be manufactured in
precincts that are almost deserted and hun
dreds of votes can be returned from some
little out-of the way precinct that rightful-
" does not contain half Of corporal's
guard of qualified voters. Under our pres
ent election law it has transpired that an
insignificant and scarcely known precinct
has returned three hundred votes on a
question submitted at general election,
when, in truth, the whole number Of quail
flied and unqualified electors living in that
precinct at that time footed up the grand
total of three, who were reported to be
honest miners. We might mention many
cases Of frauds that have been perpetrated
under our present law that would prove
strong arguments in favor of the adoption
of a stringent registry law. That regis
try law is needed in Montana now there is
no question. Men belonging to both OF
the political parties concede that law Of
this character is urgently required in order
to maintain and sustain the purity of an
honest ballot. On the Legislature devo,.
yes the duty of protecting the honest voter
and of shutting out the fraudulent voter,
and that body will disregard the needs of
the people of Montana if it adjourns with
out passing well-digested registry law.
We notice that our Representative, Hon.
Jay Wells, has introduced a bill in the
House in relation to the registration and
qualification Of voters. The proposed law
is good. In its leading features and pro-
visions it is modelled after the best registry
law in the country, the successful opera
ton Of which has attested its practicability
and wisdom. Under the pending law the
Commissioners of each county are to pro-
vide suitable blank book, of six hundred
and forty pages, which is to be kept by the
county clerk and to be known as the
Great Register. In the Great Register
the county clerk shall enter the names of
every qualified voter in the county, giving
the name in full, the age, the State or
country Of nativity, the ward or precinct
.esiding in, and the date of entry Of each
roter shall be numbered therein in the or
Ter Of its entry. Ample provision is made
or enrolling every voter in County
md for this purpose the assessor of the
county is required to keep roll Of the
'oters, on which and upon like proof as is
equired for entry upon the Great Register,
md he shall enroll the name Of any voter
# the county making application to him
or that purpose, and such enrolment
must show the same facts as are required
0 be shown by the entry upon the Great
Register, except the number Of the entry.
Zach applicant for register on the Great
Register must make oath that he is twen-
y-onc years Of age, that he is bona fde
esident of Montana and of the county,
nd citizen Of the United States, or has
eclarcd his intention to become such
nd the county clerks or assessors are en-
owered to administer said oath, Monthly ;
,turns must be made to the county clerk
y the assessor Of all voters entered on his |
81 during such month, and also all affi- :
avits made for the purpose Of procuring i.
ach registration. In the bill full provis-
N is made for the cancellation Of names
n the Great Register and for carrying the
lw into effect and making its operation
selul to the people and power in pro-
citing the ballot-box from the perpetra-
on Of fraudulent practices. The bill COW (
s every essential requirement of COM
'ete registry law, and It's passage by the
legislature would be timely act Of wis
om that would be heartily indors.d by a :
rye majority Of the voters Of Montana.
hould the bill become law there will be.
rior to the general November election in
e year 1886, a registration Of the quail ,
ID voters Of the Territory under its pro-
sions.