Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-29


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The election demonstrated the wisdom
of the course THE ARGUS so diligently
championed prior to the school election a
year ago, of having polling place in each
ward, which the mayor just as vigilantly
ignored, and instead authorized the con-
solidation scheme at three voting places,
characteristic of the last two school cleo
tions, and which, with the increased vote,
brought out by the extension of the elect
i've franchise to women and the slowness
of the judges in the central district, in
particular, prevented at least 200 votes
from being cast. In the Fourth ward
the incompetency of the judges was a
matter of constant complaint, and the
board which the mayor appointed in the
absence Of the aldermen from that ward
was composed entirely of the A. P. A.
and republicans, and many of the regular
voters of the ward were obliged to submit
to having their right to ballot questioned
by the judge. who has held his posi-
ton there for years, while first
voters in many instances cast their
vote without delay or interference. 1t
was noticeable. too. that not woman
who voted was challenged as to her quail.
ificatious, while many of the male voters
were forced to swear in their votes.
Whilelnumerous instances have been re-
ported to THE ARGUS of the votes of
mere girlssbeing accepted, as far as can
be learned the judges in the Sixth and
Seventh wards polling place discharged
their duties the most faithfully and effect
lively. Every ballot there was numbered,
the votes were taken properly and
promptly. and no unnecessary delay was
suffered.
At the voting place of the Third,
Fourth and Fifth wards. however, just
the opposite was noticeable. Notwith-
tandsing that the mayors miscslculs>
tions in consolidating the voting places
became evident, the diliatory domineer-
ing disposition of the elec-
ton judge was responsible for much de-
lay where ne wanted it to be, and he
added insult to injury by being saucy.
A large number of business men who
were anxious to vote left in disgust after
standing around until they were tired.
The boa:d in this district seemed for
some reason to think it had discharged
it's duty by o'clock in the day, prior to
which time the most pronounced "solid
Jumping" was apparent and those who
came after were obliged to abide the
convenience and pleasure of
his judgeship, who could not have
brought forth more censure had he been
moved by an avowed purpose to pass
upon every vote before admitting it. The
action of the Judges here in the one
thing alone of rejecting an unregistered
male citizen-for the first time in the his
tory of school elections here-snd the
next moment accepting the ballot
of q woman without knowing her
residence ought to be alone suf.
dcient ground for contest.
Indeed. there are various reasons lead.
ing up to the position that it is the duty
of DR.. Carter and Capt. Durham to con-
test. In the first place, it is question if
the entire election Is not illegal on the
ground that woman suffrage is unconsti
tutional. The act of the legislature
under which the women voted yesterday
is appended:
Any women of the age of 81 years and
upwards belonging to either of the class"
es mentioned in article of the consti-
tuition of the state of Illinois, who shall
have resided in this state one year, in the
county 80 days and in the election dis
trict 80 days preceding an election held
for the purpose of choosing an officer of
the schools under the general or special
school laws of this state shall be entitled
to vote at such election in the school dis
trict of which she shall at the time have
been for 80 days resident. Provided
any woman SO DESTROYS of voting at
any such election shall have been reg
istered in the same manner as is pro-
yided for the registration of male
voters.
Whenever the election of public school