New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-17
THE BALLOT LAW VIOLATED.
A FARCE AT WILLIANfSBRIDGE.
inspectors SEEMINGLY MORE IGNORANT THAN
THE MOST STUPID voTERS-How ONE
MAN INTERPRETED THE PRovIS-
IONS TO HIS OWN LIKING.

IONS To HIS OWN LIKING.
There was no majesty in the new BALLOT law as ii
was put in operation at the village election OF Will
iamsbridce I'm Westchcster County, yesterday. As in
the case OF the ROckaway election last week. which
was the first the state under the new law. ye>ter-
DAYS election demonstrated that while the essential
features of the new system exceedingly easy OF
comprehension BY ordinarily intelligent voters there is
ample scope for The display OF such excessive stupidity
by the inspectors Of election create end OF con-
fusion and dissatisfaction.
single incident will illustration OF the
evils Arising from the provisions OF the law making
the vagc Officers inspectors Of election. Mark
skennion. one Of the village trustees. was made
president Of the Board Of Inspectors William F. Dun
can. the village president having declined to serve az
ne IVES q candidate for reelection. Mr.. Skcnn0n
acted II he owned the Court House and was clothed
with authority greater than that Of the Car or En-
peror. lie interpreted the law in way that was
UNIQUE. to say the least William IIyam applied for
q ballot and Mr.. Skennion demuired saving: Il don't
think you qualified voter liyam. good
natured Irishman. explained his qualifications ana
asked to be allowed to swear his vote in. lie was
sworn and then Mr. Skennion would not give him
ballot lie asked IIyam all Of the questions required
by statute and many Others that werp exceedingly I'M
pertinent Iyam swore that he had taken ont his
FIRST naturalization papers lisa and his second IN
1880, five having elapsed. as required by law MI
Skennion declared that Iiyam was not "a legal voter
fully naurali,cd The other Inspectors demonstrated
with Mr. skcnnion. but he said he knew the law and
was competent to decide who could vote under II ana
who could not lyam had been kept standing with MS
right hand raised foi fully ten minutes. and when Mr.
Skcnnion gave his final decision he left the room to-
disgu;tcd TO insist upon his rights. The other in
spccor requested him TO return. bit he declared that
lie did not for vote under such circumstances
1t clear Of disfranc lsement. and all who
were present declared it to be an outrage. The law
allows natumlzcd citizen to vote ten days no; two
years. after he obtains his final papers.
There WAS no significance in the election beyond
II. application as test of the law The test was
not good for the Skcnnion style Of intcrprcti-
ton placed the law In contempt d made the election
appear fIcical There three tickets in the field for
the election Of village officers. The Democratic ticket
was headed by DR.. ". +. Duncan for president. the
Peoples by George W. Johnston ard the Prohibition
by j. Il. Freeman. The village poed 80 votes AZ
the last election. and under tie pew Law WAS entitled
10 two polling places. One of them was nI"d al the
Court House. and the '"her at hall owned by W. C.
Iave,.s The trustees met at the Court House,
and. after organizing ty eeCting Mr.. Skcnnion prc>i
dent. appointed five subinspcctOrS will W. e. avchS
as president 20 tale charge Of the voting in tho
second district. the fa>eeS remaining at the Court
House Mr.. Skennion began his sutOcrat rulings before
the polls were open Ivy denying Judge Sll' II
trustee and candidate for reelection on the Peoples
ticket the privilege Of acting as an Inspector OF cleo
ton Mr. Shennion is Democrat Judge shcl be
came exceedingly angry al his exclusion. and said
some uncOmpmcntary things to Mr.. Skcnniur IL
seemed likely for time that the election would be-
preceded by a fight. but Judge Shiel finally carried
his point by argument and was allowed 10 serve
There were four booths in each Of the polling Places
and the four ballot boxes were high table III
front Of the inspectors. Half dozen special con
stables with slouch hats and long clubs and great
airs Of Importance on hand to keep order. They
endeavorcd TO Keep everybody in the booths at least
three minnie, 10y leaning against the doors. Two I"
them posed staiuc>iney in the doorway 10 keep the
crowd out ExPolice captain Robbins Of New York.
when about TO found that the numbers ON his
stubs did correspond and it discovered that
Mr.. SkennOn one else had mixed mp tho
ballots, and the Confusion that followed lasted lOr
several minutes. The ballots finally Strengthened
out and the voting went The law prohibits
elcctione,ring within 40 feet Of the polls En- >treet
COMMITS sUler Bolger violating this clause OF the
law during the eutre morning Just outside the door
OF the Court House. ~ ..
John Ryan remained in booth fifteen minutes
end then came out with three tichets iodcd. beihc
asked which he wished to vote he replied Any one
yM - please, and then left the room. The VIOLA
ions Of tile law BY Mr. skennon and the other in
:pectors & sr Many dsS mpropsy and
the inspectors opened of them and refoldcd them
correctly. Later the inspectors stopped this and con-
he ballot. themselves several Of the voters when
about hand in their ballots had forsstten which
ONE they had INTENDED to , ySe M oacn o. as s
then Indicated the proper one AS all three ballots
wore handed 70 one Inspector there was no way by
which the voter could tell whether the inspector
], would require sleight o! hand work on the part
~ an inspector To change the ballots 70 sut ms psy
If ees Yesterday were Democrats. aud the Demo
cratic ticket elected by majority Of itteen votes