Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-01
The Oity Registration.

& The City Registration.
a few words are necessary concern
ing the matter Of city registration of
voters. The editor of this paper being
city clerk had published notice to the
effect that the books for registration
would close on the night Of the 9th of
October, at IL IN. At previous cleo
tions, during the time We have been
clerk we caused notice TO be pub
|lished giving notice that the books
would close te 10 days prior to the cleo
tion. I'm these notices the ten days in
cluded either the day Of closing OF the
day of election. The first notice We
published in the spring Of 1888 sdver-
tised 90 close the books on the Esd of
March, the election being on the 81 OF
April, which would be item days with
out counting either the 23d of March
or the Sd of April. This notice was
changed 10 March 24th BY those in
authority over % a. city clerk, the
reason being given that either Che 34th
Of March or the Sd Of April should be
counted in the ten days. When max
ing the notice for the registration this
fall the same rule was observed, and
either the day of closing the books or
the day of election was included in the
ten lays.
But, through tho scheming q few
vould-be Jealous workers in the republic
can ranks, trouble arose. They thought
ak republican voters had been regis
tered up to nine O'Clock Friday night,
the 26th, and they immediately set about
TO have the registration closed on that
day. On the morning o. the 9th the
matter was Investigated; Judge Clark,
City Attorney Banta and Sam1 Maher
were consulted, and decided that the
books should have been closed ON tho
26th, and a. thst opinion agreed with
our own ON the matter they wexe not
kept open Tor registration on The 9th
after such decision had been given. and
as q consequence number Of voters
who had put off registering until che
9th were cut OF from such registra:
ton. We have written to the attorney
general for instructions - 20 what
procedure will be necessary TO enable
such men 70 vote as it was through no
fault Of theirs that they did not get 70
register on the 9th.
We have no word Of blame 90 lay up
on any man but those who knew that
the question would BE- raised On tho
9th as toxegistration. Such men-the
republicans who were 50 Jealous in
getting, as they supposed, all the repub-
lican voters registered on the 26th-
knew beforehand that che books would
be closed on the 9th, and il there was
the least bit OF sincerity in their howl
for s'free ballot and fair COUNT they
would have raised the question in time
to permit all men, regardless OF poll
tics, 60 register.
We have no sympathy with the men
who put off registering until the last
day and then got cut out, even though
it was no falt Of their own. There has
been ample notice, and the books have
been open all the year.
We have endeavored to be and think
We have been without political preju-
dice In oue administration of the Office
Of city clerk. Two or three unprinci-
pied polititions have attempted to make
trouble in the Office by lying stories
and unjust and unfounded accusations;
but we believe the public will bear us
out in the assertion that we have dealt
fairly BY all men.