The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-07
AN IMPERATIVE DUTY.


of names have been allowed to remain,
year after year. on the registration lists of
this city. Our inconsistent neighbor on
Friday morning asked how we know
this and what we are doing about it.
Well, we konw it by examining those
lists after Liberal registration officers had
been compelled to file them so that they
became public records. We know it by
the reports that have been made to the
Utah Commission. 1t is a matter of
common knowledge and public COM
ment. We do not think any sane and
truthful resident of Salt Lake will dispute
the fact.
What we are doing aboutit is, we are
insisting that the names of dead persons,
of those who have left the city and of all
who cannot be found, shall be stricken
from the lists. But we are asked why
some OF the editors OF THE HERALD do
not go before some competent court and
have the Injustice corrected.
The reason for that is because it is
needless, and not the proper way to COR
rect the evil. The law provides the way,
and all that has been lacking heretofore
has been the will to do it. 1t is made the
duty of the registration officers to erase
such names from the lists. What THE
HERALD wants, and has called for each
year that this duty has been neglected, is
that the proper officers shall purge the
lists of all names that ought not to be
there.
If it is 'ssharp practice to discharge a
lawful requirement, then we want the
registrars to resort to "sharp practices;"
that is, to do their duty promptly and
thoroughly. We do not wish that any
mans name, who is bona fide resident
of the territory and precinct within the
meaning of the law, shall be denied
registration or have his name expunged
from the list. We have never asked or
desired this. Nor do we want any man
deprived of his rights because OF his party
affiliations, or that he should be ques-
toned concerning them. That would be
too much like Liberalism. The city has
had enough of that sort OF thing.
No, THE HERALD does not think that
sto carry the election its way it is abso-
lutely necessary to strike great many
names from the lists. - But the appear
ances are that the Liberals and their or
gan think it absolutely necessary in order
to carry the election their way, that these
hundreds or thousands of names which
ought to be erased shall remain. Nobody
else is making any objection to the per-
Torrance of this duty by the registration
officers, who are required by law and are
directed by the Utah Commission to do
Just exactly what The HERALD asks for.
The demand for the purging of the lists
was made in vain of Liberal registration
officers. 1t is hoped now that the law
will be honored. The strong reason why
respectable people OF all parties want this
done is that Liberal tricks may not be re-
peated. That is. for one thing, the herd
ing of hobos to the polls to take the names
of dead or removed citizens and of those
fictitious persons whom nobody ever
knew, and who either never existed or
never resided in this city.
Does any reliable person or paper deny
that The registration lists require this
purgation? We think not. Does any
just person or paper desire the continual
ton on the lists of names that ought not
to be there? We know OF none. The
temper displayed by one sheet in this
city over this matter, and the foul asper-
sions it hurls against individuals which if
true would not touch the question in
volyed, naturally raise the suspicion that
it is interested in the violation of law
which would be the consequence of ne
glect to erase from the registration lists
those names that afford opportunity for
the preparation OF fraud at the coming
election.