The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-14
ATTENTION NATURALIZED CiTI-
ZENS.
An important Decision Regarding
Registration.
The following CORES pondooco oxplalno II

self:
Alex. Charles, Cedar Roptds, loss:
DEAR 6IR-ln looking over the circular
relative to registration with some Of our ~
torneys. We have come TO the conclusion that.
along with the general remarks by the news
papers. you have also made mistake - to
the qualifications for registration. To VI tho
whole power Of the registrars 10 summed up
in section . Of the registry iaw. i is there
stated that the registrars have the same
power - Judges o. sisctlon. Ii seems to 10
that even though naturalized citizen cannot
give tho date OF his papers, nor ret the namO
Of the court, he can By signing the prescribed
oath b registered. and the registrars have no
more right 70 refuse to take bis name and
register II than tho judges have had before
the law was enacted to refuse . ballot when
the voter made the prescribed oath. am
informed that Col. Cyrus H. Mackey 10 or the
same opinion. wish you would bring this
20 the attention Of the committee tomorrow
and rot decision on the point. II our inter-
probation 10 correct, II will very much SLIM
pity registration. and Il will AID ~ In getting
msn - 50 before tho registry board.
Very truly,
Chairman Democratic County Ceatral Com
mitteo, Polk County.
Immediately On receipt Of abovs. mailed
same 70 Col Chas. 4. Clark. Or Cedar Rapids.
one Of the best known add most successful
lawyers N TIE northwest, with the following
nots'
| CO.. CAarsss 4. Clark, Cedar Rapfds Io,co:
DEAN Sla-Please send the enclosed COM
.nunication from Hon. H. Martin, OF lies
MOines, lows, and look up said registry law,
and render ~ . clear and full decision Of
same. Ajax CHARLES,
Secretary.
In Ais answer. bearing same dats, Colonel
Clark answers = follows:
CEDAR RAPIDS, Sept. ~, 1855.
Ale1. Charles, Esq, Secretary Democratic
Stats Central Committee, Cedar Rapids:
D9AR sin: am in receipt Of your favor
covering enclosures raising the question -
to whether naturaiized voter 10 entitled to
b registered. even though be cannot give
, the date Of his papers nor name the court be-
fore whom he WAS naturalised.
have examined the law, and am clearly
satisfied that natnralxed citizens arc entitled
to b registered whether they can give tho
uralization or not. The law shows upon ite
face In express terms that being able to give
the date and name Of the court 10 not pro-
quisito to being registered.
II 10 true that the nfth section Of the law
authorizes the registrars 70 inquire OF him
specifically In regard 20 his naturalization.
and the court or odhcer before whom he was
natusaii1ed. IL also authorizes the registrars
to Ask s'Gil sGeh othsv questions a. may tend 70
test hts qualification 40 q resident of the pro
but Il does not By any means follow that *
the citizen cannot answer specifically all the
questions which the ingenuity OF tho regis
ts..s may hatca up b. ., cannot e rsgis
- registered because he cannot answer spe-
cncally one Of the questions which tho
statute requires TO be asked.
The provision Of the nth section Ia regard
70 all questions 10 that after they have been
propounded nj tho applicant appears TO have
the rigt TO b registered the registrars shall
oil out the above prescribed form OF state
mcnt." sto. II 10 clear that the applicant may
, appear 70 have the right. although HE mem
ory may be defective In some respects.
! By tue seventh section OF the act Il 10 pro-
vided that, after registration. the registrars
shall prepare IN alph Abetical list OF the names
OF al persons registered. and shall give on
that list .'dats Of papers, the naturaiizing
court or plncs Of naturalization u court 70 not
kaOscs." thus showing conclusiveiy that An
applicant may b. registercd without giving
the date Of bic papers. or The name OF the
court. provided only No can give The plaos Of
naturalization"
And Yet another provision OF the Same $50
don . that the registrar shall place on the
| registration Lists .stho names OF any persons
Who would o. such election day be entitled,
| under the provisions Of the constitution and
the laws OF this state, TO exercise the right OF
suffrage In their election precincts.'
Turning 70 section OF the act 1t will b
found that any person 10 entitled TO b placed
i on the list who ''shAli have furnished upon
demand and TO tho satisfaction OF the regis
srars, the Same proofs OF his right to register
| a. may By law Be required bv judges u election.
Of any person desiring 10 vote"
Now. the only thing which judges Of cleo
d0n can require Of persons whose vote p
/ challenged. 10 the following oath:
/ "You do solemnly swear that you are cit
/ ixeu OF the United States; that you are resi-
dent OF this precinct: that you arc q years OF
| age. and - you verify believe, that you have
| been Q resident Of this county sixty days, and
Of this state sx months next preccdn. this
election. and that y0u have not voted ct this
sAau b rseetusd." Code, section s2O.
Now. while u = true that the registrars
may propound many inquisltorial questions
speci6caiiy given b. the statute, and such
other . their ingenuity may snRgest. do not
bellove they can Law fully reject from registra-
tsoa any applicant who will take the oath
| which judges Of election are authorized to
the rsgtstrars can do laM1ully, and what they
may - unl0scfuiiv. ID . very different thing.
They may, 90 pointed out 10 my speech to
the county convention, unlawfully and arot-
trarily disfranchise many citizens ~ refusing
TO place their names on the registry iists. ]
think every citizen should attend and claim
the right 70 register: give the plaec
whore So was naturalissd when he can. II hs
cannot give the date and name OF the court,
aud wlssn - cannot gtss stthsv ths place, date
eral oath, which may DO administered ~
judges Of election, and II the registrars re-
fuse 10 allow him to registrar upon taking
this oath, would advise him then 10 attend
and offer to vote on election day. offering to
, take tho Same oath before the judges VI cleo
ton. III any body q disfranchieed whom this
course 10 pursued. think his vote would Ger
, tainiy b counted 10 case of . contest, and
that 10 would 30 entitled to such legal reno
, dies In the courts - would make registrars
very sick Of attempting to dls1rAnchise
Anasican Gitassns In the future.
Yours truly,
II CHAS. A. CLARK.
Your committee desires every democrat In
lowa 10 read the above letter very carefully,
note closely tho words italicized. There 10
| not particle OF doubt - TO the sOundne0s Of
Clark's decision and Interpretation Of the law.
j No democrat la tho state wants any m1n 70
. vote who 10 not entitled to do 90. most cor.
lainly no member Of ourscommittee does. but
Ne. one aud each Of 10, will insist and eco 70
, Il that no legal voter shdll Be dtsfr0nchtsed.
j There 10 not . particle OF doubt but the un'
, scrupulOus republican managers will use
] Svery means human ingenuity can devise -
, aisfranchtse every naturalizod citizen pos.
, lit 10, but II you will follow tho course laid
! 3ut b. Col. Clark they will fall In their fran.
, DC attempt % manaols tho VIII OF . tree poo
pie.
, By order committee.
L Il. Huursa, Secretary.
Il Chairman q. CON.
Th6 dismal efforts Of the regency to b
: iunny at tho expense Of Major Anderson
. 70 far from being without success, but the
i A. - ~ 10 49, to-