The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-25

BufEhlo Convention OF 1883. which rsnom.
mated Governor HILL after all.
There is, however. penalty attached to
the primary election law. and this penalty
pretty efrectually knocked the whole key
andcrowd campaign In the head. Here It is
"Rvery inspector at = primary election who shall
knowingly receive the vote OF any who known
him not to be entitled TO vote at such primary who
shall knowingly make. attempt to make any false
canvass OF tho ballots cast or shall knowingly make
any false statement Of the result OF the canvass shall
be guilty OF q felony and shall be imprisoned ia n.
county fail on yennnary prisoa less han
year nov morehan foe yeur."
The inspectors. who had been selected be-
fore the discovery Of these provisions OF
the primary election law. arc for the most
part young men. inexperienced In politics.
and attached to tho May movement on &C.
count Of the opportunity which it gave
them to add to their weekly incomes by
extra pay for clerical work and canvassing.
They were perfectly willing TO assist. for
consideration. In tho work Of getting up
fraudulent enrolment: but one to five
years In n State prison or penitentiary Is
not a pleasing outlook. even for an anti
snapper; and consequently the previous In
structions given on Monday night had to
be countcrmandcd yesterday morning from
the downtown headquarters OF tho anti
snappers In william street.
Among those having any practical knowl-
edge OF politics in New York. the May
movement has boon regarded rs u good deal
of a Joke from tho first, and 1t has been gen.
orally likened to the grotesQue canvass car
ried on two years ago by the misguided en-
thusiasts OF the Peoples Municipal League.
From the politicians. therefore. and from
those who. though not politicians. are in
tcrested in political matters. tho anti-snap
inspectors had nothing to fear. even II they
should record as voting at to-days prima-
ries one-half OF those who registered at the
last election, or indeed all who did. But
the trouble to be apprchended. and the pro-
ceedings to be feared. are from the ranks OF
the anti-snappers themselves. In nearly
every district there has been contest for
tho CLEVELAND Mugwumps |
paying cash for clerical services. and the |
number OF persons who are eager to copy |
names for S. II day being considerable. As |
the result OF this rivalry. for every man
thus engaged several had to be turned
down; and tho latter. indignant at their
treatment. and attributing 1t to favoritism.
declare that they would like nothing bet
ter than to give. as they express 1t. their
more successful competitors in the May
"a taste Of their own medicine"
This they could easily do by preferring
charges OF violation Of tho primary cleo
lion law, and this some OF them still
threaten to do. There is. OF course. no CO.
lesion among the anti-snappers. those en-
)loyed Mt the various headquarters be-
ng. for the most part. persons Of
10 political affiliations which steady
at good wages. could
lfrect Under these circumstances what
Promised to be n cheerful day for good
many unattached citizens. will be long
md wearisome one for the inspectors. on
whom alone will fall the penalty for any
collation. Of the law governing primary
lections. This is what has been troubling
he leaders Of the Committee Of Fifty Mug
vumps; and to say that they are sad on
ccount OF the tardy discovery made on
londay night. would be to tell the truth
nd nothing but the truth.