The Portland daily press., 1891-11-23
An OPEN LETTER.
From Mr.. W. T. Hsines, to Mr.. a. r.
CerrIsh.

WATERvILLE. Me-, Nov. Goth, 1891.
Mr.. A. H. Gerrish, Portland, Me:
Dear Sir:-I have read your open letter
to me, as published In PORTLAND DAILY
PRESS. L do not know as the letter needs
any reply. You say that my utseranees
'are source Of great embarrassment to the
registrars In getting as near as possible
perfect list;" and In conclusion, you furth-
er say, ''that the registrars know as much
about making the first lists as near per-
feet as:possible as any locker on" In
this conclusion. on general principles, /
should say you were right: but that my
utterances have caused great embdrrdss-
ment to ths registrars, l should very much
doubt. You commenced your letter by
clipping from the Advertiser as follows:
Senator Haines Of waterville. the author Of
the registration law Is quoted as saying: THE
object Of thelaw Is TO get as near perfect list
/ as possible, and these men IN the board. repre-
Tesponsibie for if. Under See of the statute ne
they are given the widest discrimination with
regard TO preparing the first list The statute
says that they are 70 make the list OF such per-
sons as may appear 10 them legally qualified
voters. As TO how they shall determine VINO
appears to De Legally qualified voters, there are
care should be taken TO have the first list prac-
tcally correct. Now they can start with the
old check lists and from those add 10 and stiike
from as they see nt. They can mold as many
meetings as they wish, they can hold personal
interviews with the voters and give notice to
appear before them; Ia short. they can do all
that appears to be necessary TO ascertain who
are ana who are not legal voters, and it Is their
duty 70 do this. The matter Of expense should
be taken into consideration. To require per-
sOnal registration Of such men as 10 whom there
Is no question Is inexpedent"
have read that clipping over several
times and can't see what there Is In 1t
that any reasonable registrar should object
to. The last clause wherein am quoted
as saying TO require personal regtstra-
tion OF such men as to whom there Is no
question Is inexpedient," seems TO be what
you most especially object to. 1t must be
TINS tnat has produced thegreat ersbarTass-
that can be. To say that thing Is ine1pe-
dent Is not to say that another shall not,
may not, or should not with perfect pro-
priety do 1t. have never assumed In any
utterances that have made that knew
the duties Of registrars better than they do
themselves. l have given the matter no
special attention and do not intend
to. but Ii does not seem TO me
that II Is matter worth quarrelinl about,
or that the voter should be disposed to find
fault with, whether the registrars require
personal registration or not. Under the
in their judgment, Is the best manner uf
making no the lists in their respective
cities. Any citizen who has proper ap-
probation Of his right to vote, and OF what
voting means to the American people,
ought not tc complain II it takes ten or fif-
teen minutes Of his time to have his name
correctly registered; aud II In our smaller
cities, where the streets are not numbered.
the board Of registrars think 1t inexpedl-
ent to require personal registration, II does
not seem that gentleman in Portland or
II think 1t Is inexpedient In such case
TO require personal registration, IL does not
seem reasonable that l should be creating
any great embarrassment to any board OF
registrars Dy so thinking; II so, l am very
sorry Tor it, as desire to keep my thoughts
and actions In such a line as shall not
greatly embdrrdSs any body.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM 7. HAINEs.