Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02
Some Valuable Information for Those
Who Wish to Exercise the
Rights Of Suffrage
AT THE ELECTION NEXT TU ESDAY
Three Tickets to be Chosen, Folded Se-
curely, and Deposited in Their
Proper Receptacles.
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A VOTER.
How 10 Isssps the ksnirulstOns Of Trrkstsrs About
the Polling Places.

No State, Congressional and county elec-
ton contest combined has ever excited the
interest in Pennsylvania that the present
has, and there is an absorbing desire on the
part of manv thousand people for informa-
tion that will enable them to escape the
traps of the class of political tricksters and
msnipulators who do their work mainly on
election day. This does not consist of vote
buying specially, as that is generally ar
ranged for previously, but is mainly COM
posed of tricks that hoodwink people who
have neither the time nor inclination to
study practical politics.
A gentleman asks The DISPATCH to
state how tickets will be headed in the
present contest, how they should be folded,
how many are to be voted, what Is scratch
ing" what is 'smooth-bore, etc., and the
request is pertinent, as the mixed ticket
will be a prominent feature in Tuesdays
contest, and mixed tickets, like mixed
drinks, are confusing to the intellect of
many voters even of intelligence other
wise. The general qualifications are as
follows:
WHO ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
A foreigner, to be entitled TO vote. must
have been naturslized on or before October
T. The applicant must have resided in the
State for one year, or if previously quail
fed voter, he had removed from the State,
he must have resided In the State six
months Immediately preceding the election.
He must be 21 years old, or within one day
of it. If 81 the day after the election he is
of voting age. If % years of age or more
ne must have paid within two wears State
or county tax, which must have been
assessed at least two months and paid at
least one month before the election. If his
name be on the list of voters and he be chal-
lenged, he must prove all his qualifications
to the satisfaction OF the election officers,
and his witness must make and subscribe to
an affidavit according to a form furnished.
Ii the voters name be not on the list he
must prove the above qualifications. whether
challenged or not. A naturalized citizen
must produce his certificate of naturaliza-
tion, unless he has been for five years
consecutively a voter in the district
in which ne offers to vote. A genu-
inc certificate of naturalization
is conclusive evidence of the facts contained
therein. Payment of tax may be proven by
the prod of a receipt, or by oath of the
person offering to vote or other evidence
stating when and to whom such tax was
paid. 1t is a misdemeanor for an election
officer to refuse or neglect to take the proofs
above mentioned, and punishable by fue or
imprisonment.
HOW SUFFRAGE GOES ASTRAI.
other within two months Immediately pre-
cedug the election, loses his right to vote in
either. ANY one who gives or offers to give
money or other valuable consideration to
another to induce him to vote or abstain
from voting, loses his own right to vote.
Election officers must, according to law, re-
iect the votes of all persons who have made
a bet or are interested ina bet on the result
OF the election.
Now as to smooth bore" tickets. They
are mixed tickets which enable a man to
vote Ior part, and, at the same time reject
some Of the candidates OF his own party.
They pretty generallv contain the names OF
his party candidates, but also some of the
other side, or, for that matter, of any other
party. Democratic, Republican, Inde-
pendent or Prohibition, as the case
may be. Independents use them largely
but a voter, 20 make sure he is right, should
carefully inform himself on the issue and
the name or names OF the candidates that
represent that issue. lie NAV be loyal to his
party and still except to some OF his can
didates but unscrUpulous men may use
sInooth-hores pernciously.
A 'scratcher" is a man who exercises his
own Judgment and obliterates the name of
any candidate who may not suit MIN, and he
can substitute another, if he choose. The
crv. Vote you shot," formerly quite
effective, has but little force this year, and
many veterans of the Civil War will, in
stead at this election scratch as they
scratched % wears ago in the effort to get
rid OF parasites. Scratching, in political
parlance, is the culling OF Objectionable
candidates.
THREE BALLOTS TO BE CAST.
Tickets to be voted this year are headed
''State," Congressional and County,"
They may and doubtless will be printed in
various kinds OF type, however, and the
voter must exercise his own gumpton in
distinguishing them. II he feels unequal to
the task, the next best thing is TO get some
friend who can be trusted, to make his ticket
for him Just as he wants 1t, and in this case
it is well. ii he wish to be saved the pester-
ing OF othciOus "heelerS," 20 have it made
before he goes to the polls, and vote what is
IL.
II ne wait until he goes to the polls before
making his ticket, his best plan, if he be
conscientious, bat disposed to be peaceabIe.
will be TO 60 to the man in charge OF the box
OF tickets that he wants, and depend on his
gel ection. Those accommodating gentlemen
around the polling booths who are always
willing to FIX" mans vote for him are not
always trustworthy.
As to 70 ding, the voter NAV exercise his
own pleasure as to style, provided he be
particular TO fold his ticket so that onlv the
head, whatever that may be, State, Con-
gressional or county, be exposed.
TWO CHANCES FOR ONE OFFICE.
Voters may vote for two candidates for
County Commissioner, but for that office
only, as in other cases the election officers
reject both tickets.
If a man be able to read Enplish and 10
enlightened as to the merits of the contro-
versy and the candidates, he ought to be
able to make his own ticket, but ior reasons
assigned above, and in some instances for
another that will readily suggest itself If is
we'll for some people to have their tickets
prepared in advance. Much depends nnon
their environment and constitutional com
position.
CRAYoN Portraits very cheap
HENDRICKS & Co..
68 Federal ST., Allegheny.
Fall and Winter Suitings