The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-10
FRANCHISE
ASSAILED.
Republicans conspiring to
Invalidate the Election
Through the Regis
try Lists.
BLAIR's QUEER OPINION.
Corporation Counsel Invades the
Province Of the County
Board Of Elections.
WHOLESALE ARRESTS THREATENED
Tie Democratic Deputy Sheriffs
Ordered Not to Molest Legal
Voters of Any Party.
WHOLESALE ARRESTS THREATENED

New complications have arisen in con-
nection with the municipal election of
next Tuesday which threaten to precipi-
tate several different kinds of trouble.
At the request of the Republican party
managers, Corporation Counsel Blair has
rendered an opinion concerning the reg
istry lists which Democratic lawyers say
is absurd.
The opinion is. the form of advice to
the election officers and copy of it has
been sent to every man who will act at
the polls on Tuesday. 1t is as follows:-
ITO all district Boards of Registry and
Election:-The registry book filed by your
Beard with the County Board of Elec-
tionS and delivered to you by the City
Clerk this spring, is the book you must
use on the day Of the coming election,
Tuesday, April IS, 1897, after making in
said book the corrections and revisionS
authorized by law. 1t is not proper to
use new copy made from such regis
in possession of the original register
you must procure same at once and use
it on election day"
on the opinion is that the Corporation
Council wants the registry lists OF last
fall used at next Tuesdays election,
which is regarded merely as a plan to dis
credit the legality of the registry held for
the coming much contested election.
On March 16, as has been customary,
and as provided for by law the several
registry boards copied the several reg
istry lists of last fall into new books,
and at the same registered all new ap-
phcantS who appeared.
on March %, the second day of regis
tration, when two-thirds of the Republic
can officers remained away from the poll
ing places by orders of the party mana-
gers, the Democrats who were on hand
accepted names and have since entered
them on the new lists.
Acting under instruction from the Cor
porafion Counsel, the Republican officers
will use last falls registry lists, and will
allow only men whose names appear on
them to vote. The Democratic officers
will use the new lists, and will demand
that every voter on their lists shall vote.
Trouble is anticipated, and arrests may
be made by the wholesale.
Democratic lawyers have advised the
election officers that Corporation Coun-
sci Blair f.as has absolutely no right or
be done. Elections are held under the
supervision of the County Board OF
Elections and that body having counsel,
shall be noticed must emanate from him
The Democratic election officers have
been advised to cause the arrest of the
first Republican officer who refuses to ac-
cept the ballot of man whose name APP
pears on the new list. The ground taken
by the lawyers. who say Mr.. Blair's
opinion is absurd and only manufactured
for the occasion, is that the County
Board of Elections met today and issued
certificates to voters to have their names
entered on the new registry list any time
on Tuesday.
AT a meeting of the Democratic City
Committee last night committeeman were
advised to take no bluff from the Re
publican officers and further to pay no
attention to policemen who attempt to
interfere, but to order them from the
polling place. If they refuse to leave
they may be arrested by the Judge of
Election the same as any private indi-
vidual.
Such hot times are expected at the
polling places over which set of registry
lists Shall be used that the committee
last night pursued the unprecedented
course of procuring men who will be
voter of the Democratic party, who from
one, cause or another chances to get ar
rested. The several Democratic COM
mnitteemen We're instructed 70 remain at
they close. They are also to watch the
count and send the tally by hundreds sto
Democratic headquarters in Mercer
street. They are then to accompany the
men having charge of the ballot boxes
to the City Hall and see to 1t that they
n m9e wah OF lhe r returns
vised to keep sober and be on the look
out for repeaterS.
They Were advised also to permit no
man having a certificate of transfer to
vote until some trusted person accom-
pan1es the voter to the place named in
the transfer to ascertain If he has a legal
residence. Every possible precaution
against fraud has been taken. The Re
publicans have been similarly active and
the election promises. to be the hottest
one ever held in the city.
democrats are confident and are bet
ting z to l., Republicans say they will
win In a. walk.
The fact that Leader Robert Davis of
the Democratic party has decided to se-
cure the appointment of $50 deputy sher-
ifs to watch the polls on election day
has disconnected the Republicans to such
an extent that they are In a state nf
mind The tried and true henchmen are
kicking over The traces about taking the
chances OF working repeaters. Robert
Paws wants It dstinctly understood that
molest or interfere with legal voters ,t but Ut