The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-05
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.

Station, was released on $50 bail.
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.
Over Two Hundred Cases Hoard and
Little Friction.
1t is remarkable circumst stance that an
election never passed off in this city with SO
little friction, so far as the Election Commis-
sion is concerned, as yesterday.
1t is true that the Commissioners were in
session from early morning until o'clock
in the evening and were kept busy most Of
that time; but the great bulk of cases in
volved clerical or typographical errors or
changes Of residence, and inasmuch as
resolute stand had been taken on the law of
the case, very few questions arose that were
not easily and quickly disposed of.
1t is safe to estimate that 200 cases ap-
peared before the Commissioners to be de-
cided. At least three-fourths of that num-
Der were errors that occurred either in the
Registrars Office or the printing office, and
as fast as the mistake was discovered it was
rectified the satisfied voter was given GER
tificate and told to go and vote. Consider
able amusement was occasioned Throughout
the day by Auditor Strother, who took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to hand outwith
each certificate one Of his own election
cards, "Vote for Fleet F. Strother for Audi
tor" remarking in tender undertones as he
your duty"
sTROTHER's LITTLE FREEDOM.
MI Strother was little sheepsh about
this sort of proceeding at first, and under
took to conduct 1t so deftly as not to excite
attention. But it didn't take long for the
whole assemblage to "catch on" anu then it
guyed him unsparingly whenever ticket
made its appearance.
conceal his tactics "Gentlemen," said be,
good naturedly, ''this is the only chance
Pve had to. do any electioneering, and
you oughtn't to begrudge me this little
freedom"
Quite number of voters appeared early
with the complaint that the precinct officers
had refused to accept their votes, not for
any reason that could be discovered, but
simply would not let them vote. They were
told to 60 back to their precincts and vote,
and if challenge based on any substantial
reason was made, then the Commissioners
would settle it.
Several seamen who had returned from
sea too late to register demanded the privi-
leges heretofore accorded them, but were
told that the law is plain and cast iron in its
rulings and they had lost their VOTES
Mr. Buckley. a member Of the Republican
County Committee, complained that the
Precinct Board of the Fourteenth of the For
tieth had taken advantage of Republican
judges tardiness and had sworn In n Demo-
crat in his place.
ENFORCED BY A POLICEMAN.
The commission ordered the substitution
of a Republican judge. but the rightful ap-
pointee, Mr.. Mullins, returned some time
later and said that the board had declared
the order from the commission a forgery.
A policeman was then ordered to the pre-
cinct to enforce the commissions original
appointment, and as no complaints came
from that locality it is supposed the difficult
ties were amicably settled.
Thara uas a deal of disannnin tmpnt tn the
many who had been refused their vote on the
ground of having moved from one precinct
20 another within the thirty days required
by law to reside In precinct next before
the day of election. In nearly all instances
these removals were forced by one cause or
another, and as this infeXible construction
had never before been put upon the law,
few understood that it simply meant dis
franchisement for this election.
I'VE are very sorry," said Mr.. StrOther on
behalf of the commission. shaking his head
and looking sad. "but the Supreme Court
has decided that you have lost your vote.
The law says you must have resided in the
precinct thirty days next preceding the day
of election"
A DISAPPOINTED LIEUTENANT.
Selim A. Woodworth, Lieutenant Of the
United States Navy, born in this city and
never having voted elsewhere, stated that he
had been forced to move for sanitary reasons.
The doctor had ordered it. He did not see
how tue law could rule him out OF his vote
under such circumstances. But the COM
mission was obdurate The law was plain,
and no matter how many pltlful and mltl-
eating circumstances there might be in Mr..
Woodworth's case, the law must be obeyed
The disappointed naval Lieutenant ar
gued the injustice OF the case with every one
in his hearing for an hour or two, and tried
once or twice more to secure the hearing of
the commission. but without avail Finally
he disappeared, and 1T was supposed he had
accepted the situation and given up the
fight as a bad job
To the surprise of everybody, he again ap-
peared 10 the line about o'clock in the aft
ernOon. IL seems he had gone to his physi-
clan and secured an affidavit Of the facts
neceSSitating his removal to another pre-
cinct. The Commissioners looked at it, then
at each other The advising counsel dropped
their heads. Not one cared to speak, but
all noticed the look of intense earnestneSs
on the naval officers face.
''Saems to me this man ought 10 be al
lowed to vote" said Mr.. Strother in under
tones looking first at Attorney Dorm, then
at Attorney Alderman. Both turned away
and looked sorrowful. The case was exactly
against the law, and against all previous
rulings of the board.
THE LIEUTENANT VICTORIOUS.
81 move Mr.. Woodworth be given GER
tificate," said Strother, hastily.
Second the motion" said O'Bfien.in the
next breath.
"Carried!" exclaimed Strother.
Mr.. Woodwork received his certificate,
but Mr.. Flourn0y refused to sign it, on the
strict point Of law previously taken by the
board.
P. j. Murphy. the candidate for State SEN
ator from the Twenty-fOurth District made
a complaint that the inspector of the Six
teenth Precinct of the Thirty-eighth Dis
trict had allowed fully half dozen men to
vote who had not resided in their respective
precincts for thirty days. The inspector
ignored all protests, and said as long as their
names are on the register they are entitled to
trar to notify the inspector that such actions
are against the law.
Toward the close Of the afternoon col
ored man came in and complained that some
one had voted his name. He was thirsting
for gore and there was blood in his eye as
he looked Mr.. Strother in the face.
Sorry" said the Commissioner, shrug-
ging his shoulders, you've lost your vote.
Under the advice of the counsel we have
ruled that where name has been once
voted it cannot be voted again."
NOT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
"This is not South Carolina" the colored
voter exclaimed. /" / want my vote. I'd
sacrifice my life and half dozen others to
catch the man who voted my name."
The crowd laughed at him, and that made
him more mad He turped to the C0mmis-
sioners, shook his fist in their faces ard said
they were to blame for his misfortune. FL
nally he became 50 loud and SO personal that
he had to be hustled out Of the room.
Heaving great sigh Of relief the board
adjourned at o'clock, with every case dis