Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-09-23
lconmunicated.l i
70 the Editor Of the GLoucEsrEn COUNT

veyed wrong impression to Mr.. Geo. Pier
son, Chairman Of the County Board of
Elections, in the communication to the
Democrat on Sept. 9th.
The gentleman states in last weeks is
sue OF the Constitution that "the correspond
ent L. N. discusses the Southern cOlored
vote question, mainly in an intelligent and
impartial manner, but seems disposed to
unfairly criticise and censure the County
Board of Elections in granting certificates
of registration to some of these colored
farm hands from the South
There certainly was no intention to criti-
else the action of the County Board, either
fairly or unfairly. nor was any opinion ex-
pressed as to the legality of these votes: the
object was merely to call attention to the
fact that local election officers should not
be expected to refuse to register that class
of voters, when the County Board grants
certificates of registration to them.
If, as Mr.. Pierson claims, and the writer
has never denied, these certificates were
granted after a careful examination of the
applicants, and upon sound and correct
Interpretation of the law, it is difficult to
see where there is anything like CEN
sure or unfair criticism in pointing out
that the action Of the Board may have an
influence on both cases, which its mem
bers, perhaps do not contemplate or de-
sire. This seems to be fault inseparable
from the system, but is one which full
and open discussion will do much to
remedy.
To what extent persons who were not
bona .fde citizens of New Jersey have been
allowed to vote in this county, the writer
does not know. While it is not likely that
the total vote of the county has been ma
terially affected in that way, the law is, of
course, just as effectually broken by one
illegal vote as by thousand
The question as to what constitutes
voting residence sometimes involves very
fine points of distinction, and no hard and
fast rule will meet all cases.
Each case usually possesses distinctive
features of its own that call for the exer-
else OF sound Judgment and common sense,
and should be decided on its own merits.
with very little regard to any other case.
While the constitution of New jersey re-
quires that voter shall have resided in
the State for one year next preceding cleo
tion, and the election law specifies that he
shall be entitled to vote in the township
where he actually resides. and not else
where, it would be manitestly wrong to
say that q temporary absence deprives him
of citizenship, or disqnalifies him for vot-
ing.
1t is also clear that the length of the alb
sence is immaterial; voter may leave the
State on election day and not return until
the next election day, and he would be en-
titled to vote if registered, provided that
he had home in this State and had not
become citizen of another State.
On the other hand, person might pass
the entire year in this State and not ac-
quire legal residence, nor lose his citizen
ship in his native State.
The whole question, as it affects the
Southern colored voters, may be summed
up in nutshell. When Virginia farm
hand comes here and works season, does
he lose his residence in Virginia?
Certainly not; if he makes his home
there and goes back 10 it when his job is
finished he is citizen Of Virginia just as
much as if he had never been out of the
State.
Can man be citizen of two States at
the same time, and have right to vote in
either or both?
Apparently not as the law provides
heavy fine and imprisonment for anyone
who causes or procures his name to be
registered in more than one election dis
trict.
1t is evident therefore, that citizen of
another State cannot become a citizen of
New Jersey until he has lost his residence
in the former State.
| 1t seems plain that when person, not a
native of this State applies for registration,
he should be required to show that he has
resided continuously in the State for
year Immediately preceding, or furnish
such evidence apart from his own testi-
mony, of his intentions during the preced-
ing year, as to leave no room for doubt
that he has become permanent resident
of New Jersey.
In view of what has been said concern
| ing the changes in the Boards of Registry
and Election this year, and by way Of ex-
planning that the writer has not been
animated by any personal feeling, it is only
proper to say that the changes in Elk
township was only in line with established
precedent. Soon after the new election law
went into effect, the Democrats of this
township decided to carry out the princi-
pie of rotation in Office by changing their
representatives on the election board every
two years. Hence the writer was appoint
ed two years ago with that understanding,
and his successor was selected and appoint-
ed this year with his full knowledge and
approval.
Inasmuch, however, as all that the
writer has contended for in behalf of the
election officers of last year has been ad-
mitted, it may, perhaps, be taken for grant
ed that we have right to hold up our
heads with other people comforting our
selves with the reflection that while we
were no better than we should have been,
we were not as bad as we might have
been. LIN.
| FERRELL, N. j., Sept II, '97.
Church Notes.
The Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
church will preach Sunday morning on
Serving for Love-" and in the evening on,
aThe Anti-Gsmbling Amendment