Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-02
IDunsmoor and Registratton.

Mr.. EDfroR-Mr. Dunsmoor, the County
Clerk, has heretofore borne the reputation
of an honest msn. His conduct in this cam
paign shows that he will permit his own
ambition and the interests OF his party to
overcome the calls OF duty. He gave public
notice that all persons who desired TO vote
must be registered by 0ctober2d Noiwitn-
standing this notice he gave private inior-
nation to the Republican County Commit
tee that he would issue supplemental keg
lister on october 27th, which should con-
tain the names OF all persons registered up
to and including that date. 1t was his duts
to have informed the people in the most no.
torious way that they might register on OF
before October 27th, but he did not 40 So
he concealed the TACT from Democratic yo
tiers and confined his efforts to stutfing the
REGISTER with Republicans. The Demo
cratic Committee found out about this out
rage and ascertained the scheme. Mr. Bill
derrain, the Assessor, appointed number
OF deputies, s1ore them in and sent them
out, instructing them 10 register every one.
regardless of party. They procured the
names of large mum Der OF voters VINO
chanced TO be mainly Democratic, and duly
registered them. Mr.. Dunsmoor raised the
question that as the County Government
Bill provides that deputy cannot act until
his appointment has b. en- filed, ana as the
appointments of the ASS sssor's deputies had
not been filed, that their rcts were void.
| But every deputy's appointment and quail
| fcation was on nile by October 9th. The
Political Code provides that the Assessor
mu { keep roll OF electors and that the
County Clerk must register voters upon the
returns of the Assessor When Mr.. Duns-
moor made the above object II, WI ieh was
/ n moi tho y7th pf f1pfnhQr NJ
white called upon him, and after some dis
cussion Dansmoor gave Mr.. White to under
stand that he would put the names of all
those who were returned by the As
sessor upon the Suppleme Ttal REGISTER Mr..
White SO informed the Democratic County
Committee, aud matters thus res ted until
yesterday at IL o'clock, when the supple
| mental Register came out, and the names OF
| 1874 Democratic voters we're omitted, and
this upon the ground that although the As.
| sessor's deputies had been duly appointed
| and had duly qualified, that nevertheless
/ the registration was void because the APP
Pointments were not fled until day alter
| the registration OF the voters whose names
/ were reported. An alternative Writ of Man
date was at once issued by Judge Brunson.
and the matter came up before him at five
| O'Clock yesterday, the clerk and his attor-
neys procrastinating the matter as late as
| possible. Judge Brunson sa. d that the issue
\ was of too much importance 10 pass upon
at once. and that as he desired to be fair and
correct IN his ruling he would not Jump at
| a conclusion. He criticised the delay which
might compel him to act without considera-
| ton. The attorneys of the voters who had
been disiranchised by Dunsmoor's sction
stated that the delay was not their fault:
| Mr. White said in the presence of Mr.. Duns-
| moor and in open court, that the latter had
given him to understand that these names
should appear upon the Register, and that
their omission had not been even intimated
or thought of until IL O'Clock OF yesterday.
The case was taken under advisement as
Judge Brunson did not feel like passing
upon it at once
| Dunsmoor's action in concealing the issu-
ance of the Supplemental Register and in
chising 1874 voters of this city may be credit
able, but the average voter cannot see TIE
matter in that light. He did not deny the
accusation of Mr.. White as to his deception,
and he stands convicted before this com
munity OF the facts which are above
charged against him. II it is to be the rule
that County Clerk may use his office for
partisan purposes the fact has hitherto been
unknown. Daring the long administration
of honest s0ld Potts no such iniquity was
ever attempted. Every good man is inter
ested in square dealing with the public, and
If Dunsm0or's behavior in this campaign is
to be an indication OF his future conduct he
is not worthy of the support of any person,
whether that person be Dem ocrat or Re-
publican. W. j. A. Smith would never
stoop TO such outrageous conduct.
JUSTICE
> Nnua-ohor Ind 1s2t