The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-11
THE REPUBLICAN FRAUD,

THE REPUBLICAN FRAUD
The Republicans have a strange way
of obtaining campaign literature, and
taking advantage of what has been
said without its being fully said. The
following is a brief statement of the
situation of a certain Registration
Board in Winston: The Democratic
party appointed a Democratic regis
trar; the Republican party appointed
a Republican registrar; the Populist
party having no Populist in that pre-
cinct made no appointment, but the
clerk being a Republican, appointed
a lifelong Republican to fill the place
for Populist, thus making two Re-
publican registrars and one Democratic
registrar. Persons applied for regis
tration. The Democratic registrar in
sisted that, when a person applied he
should be asked his age and residence,
and in order to obtain the truth of
his age or residence, if it was at all
in doubt, you could make him answer
such proper questions pertaining to
these matters. The following is the
exact language of the statute. every
registration shall specify, as near as
may be, the age and residence of the
elector, as well as the township or
county from whence he moved, in the
case of a removal, since the last cleo
ton, and the name by which he is
commonly known; but no registration
shall be invalidated because of fail
ure to specify the age and place of
residence, etc, unless it shall appear
that, upon the registrar properly
questioning the elector, he declined to
answer the questions pertaining to
these matters"
AS we are reliably informed, persons
applied for registration; they were
asked the question, where do you re-
side?" If the answer was, II reside in
this ward" in order to be accurate and
to see if this statement was true, the
elector was asked what part of the
ward, what street,. The registrar ask
ed him how old he was, and if he was
apparently under p they asked him the
date of his birth, or some such question.
The Republicans objected to all these
questions, and claim that if boy IL
years old applies for registration and
answered he is 81, he must register. If
a person applies for registration who
lives in different State. well known to
the registrars, if he says he lives in
the precinct, must be registered with
out further inquiries, and this against
the plain letter of the statute, that
hn ala cf
pertaining to these matters" An ex
parte application has been made to
Judge Montgomery, who has issued, in
due course of the court, notice to
show cause upon the registrars at a
Winston precinct. Of course, in grant
ing the order by Judge Montgomery
only one side was heard. His Honor
has not passed upon the questions, but
will do so on the hearing. When both
sides have been given a fair hearing,
then his Honor will decide what is the
law. But before that hearing takes
place upon the ex parte order of Judge
Montgomery, as we are informed, the
Republicans have issued this ex parte
order of the judge as campaign cir
cular.
Now, Democrats, you can see to what
this Republican party is driven. Their
effort is even to get beforehand with
the court, and not wait for it's final
decision on hearing both sides. Tt
respects no person or no authority
where it seeks to obtain an advantage.
OF course the purpose of such a con-
struction is evident 1t is to register
illegal voters, if possible, then to de-
pend upon the challenge day to get
them off. Now, it is well known that
they must be gotten off by the chal-
lenge on Saturday, Gath, and notice
given for the person challenged to
appear on the 31st of October. How
can you serve these notices upon this
class of society, who fraudulently
register? Answer: The Republicans
will know that these persons, if -,
the registration rook, will then get
away from sight. No notice can be
served upon them They will return
after, the 3st, when they cannot be
challenged, and thus. however Illegal
their registration, they can vote. The
only resort left to those demanding
honest government and honest cleo
tionss is a series of indictments against
these persons after election day. We
all know what that means. This mat
ter should be seriously considered by
every Democrat, who should make it
his business to be about the polls and
see that this unlawful conduct is not
permitted. and to see the character
of men who present themselves for
registration, that the people OF North
Carolina may thoroughly understand
the outrageous fraud that Is attempted
to be perpetrated.