The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-06

to become a citizen of the United States,
but who cannot take out his final natu-
raliZation papers until after registration
may close, presents himself for registra-
ton, he would seem under the present
law to not be entitled to registration.
Section s has been construed to permit
such a person to secure registration, but
| am inclined to think such a construc-
ton is not warranted. The law should
not a qualified elector in the matter OF
residence or citizenship at the time reg
istration closes, but who shall become
qualified to vote on election day, he
right to have his name placed upon the
registration books before they close with
u remark attached thereto, so that the
judges of election may test his qunliti-
cations when he offers to vote. And
such a person, before voting, should en-
hibit his final citizenship papers on cleo
ton day. The present law would prob
ably be construed as unconstitutional
in it's application to such a person il his
vote was rejected, yet there is no way OF
registering him.
1t would be we'll to require all registry
agents to register persons between
ten in the morning and ten at night,
emitting two meal hours, from the be-
ginning to the close OF registration.
They are paid a per diem and might as
we'll sit during these hours. They should
designate in their notices in what par
ticular houses they will sit in each pre-
cinct, but if it may become impossible
for them to secure proper accommoda-
tions within the house designated then
they may select some other and suitable
place within the precinct, situated as
close to the original place designated as
it is possible to procure such other suit
able place.
The construction of the law that q
man with a registry certificate can vote
in any county, where he does not reside,
by su~rrendering his certificate is clearly
erroneous because it is impossible to
know for whom he votes without di-
rectly violating the letter and spirit Of
the secret ballot law. And the only
way to give effect to both avs is to hold
that an elector must vote in the county
where he lives on election day. or
course if he changes his residence the
law protects him. / can find no prece-
dent anywhere which will permit a man
to vote outside of his own county, and
it would be unsafe to enact any such
provision.
With these proposed changes and re-
strictlons | believe that the law would
be greatly improved, and if there are
other defects they will become palmer
after these much needed amendments
shall have gone into effect. 1t is true
that there is some grumbling at having
to register every two years, but in a new
country where men travel a great deal
and are 80 constantly changing their
residence it is not much trouble to pre-
sent ones self before a registration
agent at every general election. More
over when the agent sits in each pre-
cinct the cause for grumbling will be
removed.
To one proposition / hope the legisla-
ture will stand committed without quail
tication, and that is to preserve the gen.
eral operation of the law, without dis
elimination between the country and
the cities Of the state. If there has
been any truth in the rumors of frauds
perpetrated within Montana at elections
held within our limits for the past
twenty years, an examination will prove
that the wrongs were done, if done at
all, in outlying precincts where the ar
gument that every voter was we'll known
and cheating could not prevail ought to
have obtained if it was sound; but | be-
lieve that the vigilance used in cities
upon election day by candidates, peace
officers, and others who make it their
duty to be around the polls, renders the
temptation to commit crime less in large
communities perhaps, than it is to do
wrong in some remote polling precinct
established perchance for the tempo
rary convenience of gangs of men barely
long enough in the state to vote. And
all that l write, and all the comments
made in this article, and to be- hereafter
made by me, are upon the hypothesis
that the registration law shall be pre-
served in it's salient features as it stands
upon the statute books to-day. 1t is a
solid, safe foundation.
WILLIAM II. HUNT.