Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-26

1900 tax receipts for somebody else. ZAP
plausc.]
Mr. Hayard read from the law the duties
Of the inspectors Of registration and elec.
ton. The registration books are to be open
| to public inspection and all the books must
be in harmony with each other. The final
| revision shall take place between and .
O'Clock ON the morning Of election, SC
that the books may be thoroughly harmo-
nlzed before the voting begins. II any citi-
zen has knowledge of any man who regis.
tiers or proposes to register, in an Illegal
manner he has the opportunity of chal.
lenging, carefully and deliberately. with
out waiting for the excitement and politi-
| cal turmoil of election day. The registers
must make Use of their registers on cleo
| ton day, and no person shall be permitted
| to vote unless his name shall appear on at
| least two registration books as a qualified
| voter or one who may become qualified by
| the payment of tax. In all cases the
books must be taken as the guide and test.
Mr.. Bayard expressed his pleasure at the
| enactment of these formalities as they
| may serve to impress voters with deeper
sense of their duties and responsibilities.
Sickness or absence may cause a man to
lose his vote. but this affects all alike.
Anything that serves to impress a citizen
| with the gravity ond responsibility of this
act of voting is to be desired, 1t is the
grayest duty u man has to perform for the
| government of which he is Il part.
A most beniticcnt feature Of the law is
that allowing any suspected vote to be
challenged. When challenge is made,
the inspector must administer an oath to
the challenged and challenger, and the
marking of name "for challenge when
so demanded by II reputable citizen, is
mandatory upon the registers. The chal-
lenge is not beard amid the busy turmoil
OF an excited crowd around the polls, but
quietly and regularly, before the registers.
and il the challenge is sustained the name
is stricken from the list. All errors, such
as duplication of registration, removals
from the CITY, &c., can also he corrected in
ample time before the election.
Each party has a right to have chal-
lenger at each place of registration, and
each party will have representation upon
the election boards. This is fair and
proper provision. Election officers also
have power to preserve the peace, COM
mand order and to enforce all commands
necessary to this end. and to protect them
selves, the voters and their books from
violence and fraud. This is a most i'm
portant provision. There was case in
court to-day, which Shows how difficult it
is to secure n conviction of those who
obstruct voting at the polls. This proYi~
sion will obviate trouble of this kind in
also guard against such troubles. BY the
new law the voter must go alone to the
polls, pass through an alley way, into a
room, where are the challengcrs. Election
officers and clerks. There are booths into
which he mustretire alone to prepare his
ballot. Those who are illiterate may be
assisted in the preparation of the ballot. In
voting, the ballot Is to be folded in such q
way that it cannot be told what ticket the
man is voting. The effect is that no man
can tell how another man votes. This is q
complete secrecy of the ballot. No man
can then know that he has purchased the
vote of another, for he will have no
guarantee but his word, and the word of a
man who will agree to sell his vote, will
not go for much. [Applause.l
Then comes the question of intimidation
by employers or by other influences. All
this is at an end, for no intimidating in
flucnces can go with the voter to the polls.
II is the poor, the ignorant, the helpless,
that need the protection of the law and
these are the men protected by this law as
fully as the strong and the powerful.
There j. every reason why the young men,
especially, should come forward and
organize for the purpose of studying and
assisting to carry out this law. It's pro-
visions are easily understood and can soon
be thoroughly mustered.
a suggestion thrown out by Mr.. Bayard
was for men of imperfect education or in
different penmanslip to 60 to the registra-
ton places with their names fully and
plainly written on Il piece of paper. The
law requires the recording Of the full name
of each applicant, and by this means
much trouble would be avoided.
With regard to the impression enter
taincd by some people that the registration
system was all unnecessary trouble, Mr..
liayard said this was a great mistake. He
would be proud TO enroll himself MS "A voter
of the city of Wilmington. The best plan
would be for all who can to read the law
and then do all in their power to make it
Il success.
Mr.. Bayard urged the young men of the
ward TO organize and appoint sub-commit-
tees to thoroughly block the ward; then
to see that every qualified citizen shall
have notice of registration and also assist
him to register. Bear in mind, he said
earnestly, no mans vote can be received
unless he is registered, and no man can be
registered unless he presents himself in
person.
II the law shall be found imperfect, the
Legislature will no doubt amend it, But
meanwhile, let us strive to make this law,
passed by Democratic I.egislaturc-not
for the purpose of securing Democratic
victories, but for the preservation of the
honest principles Of a Republican form Of
SitNNtSo its as IUSSlDlt.
Mr. Bayard suggested as "a very good
move. the securing of room, where those
interested in the law could meet and carry
ont the work Of making the law success.
lie closed with an earnest and stirring APP
peal to all to maintain their interest in the
right Of suffrage and in the government of
the people.
The meeting being in mood to hear
more speal;ing called for Branch II. Giles,
who responded. He said that when Re-
publicans on juries vote against the con-
vction Of men who violate the election
laws, il is necessary for Democrats to pre-
pare to have their votes without trouble
He hoped each man present would ascer-
tain all that is necessary for registration
and voting, and attend to all the details,
so that there will be no mistake. lie en-
torsed the idea Of forming clubs and said
the time was none too soon for this work.
He also suggested the holding of voting
schools. where the requirements of the
law could be carried out and people made
familiar with all its provisions. If this
were done he felt sure the Tenth ward
would give a Democratic majority that
would make the city and county Demo
cratic
This ended the speaking and the meet
ing adjourned. Everybody was pleased
and the affair was voted complete success.
Whecinen Sue for Damages.