The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-23
State Registration Wanted.

| What is needed in Chatham county-in
the state NJ large, as "a matter Of facts
a comprehensive, equitable, once-for-aN
1 registration law. This thing of tinHering
! the registration laws at every whip
stitch, and making one law for one
/ county and another law for another
county, has gone on already too long.
! The whole state should be put under one
| good law covering the matter thoroughly,
and that law should be clinched and cop
| per-fasteued
The member Of the Georgia legislature
who, at the approaching session, shall
succeed in having such law passed, will
| earn distinction and the gratitude of the
masses. What is wanted is merely law
that will insure honest registrations and
fair elections
Under existing circumstances in this
state, and in this part of it especially,
where the black vote is very heavy, the
question of who shall fill an office is sim
ply question of money. There is no Re
publican party here to keep the Demo
cratic party in line. The elections are
nominally free to all democrats, or alleged
NAHlAlpNA aus anu lilt AdA Jaws anu NOtANl-
tions are taken advantage Of. The candi-
dates whose friends back them with the
greatest amount of money and whisky
are frequently-very frequently-the can
didates who win. The negro vote is the
balance of power in these contests.
So notorious has this manipulating
of elections with dollars and drains
become that many Of our best citizens de-
cline to vote knowing full well that their
expressions of opinion at the ballot box
can and will be nullifed by black votes
bought for 81 each, in case the citizens
votes are against the bosses.
This matter of vote buying has been
brought before the grand jury time and
again, but while there is no doubt in the
minds of that body of the facts they
never can be proved, and never will be.
The remedy for this condition of affairs
is state registration by which every
legal voter will be permanently regis
tered; that is, until he dies or removes
from the state. There is no mystery in
or science necessary to the getting
up of proper law. Other states protect
their voters with such laws, and there is
no reason why Georgia cannot protect
hers likewise. Rhode Island has a new
election law, the like of which,
it seems, would be advisable in
this state. This is the law in
Rhode Island qualifying voters: GA
freebooter or real-estate owner may
vote after one years residence in the
state and six months residence in the
city by simply having his name put
on the voting list, where it remains
until he dies or moves away. An
owner of personal property may vote
after two years residence in the state
and six months in the city. He registers
once, after which his name remains Per
sons owning no property must have lived
the same length of time in the state and
city as in the preceding case, but they
must register every year. Their names
must be recorded before Dec. 81 of each
year to enable them to vote at any cleo
ton in the coming twelvemonth"
A few negroes might be elected to Office
under such a law in Georgia; but even
that would be better than that a venal
black vote should decide elections in
cities and counties in which democrats
divide.