Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-09
Communicated

TO the editor of the GLOUCESTER COUNTY
DEMOCRAT:
The alIusion in last weeks issue of the
DEMOCRAT to the Southern colored voters
in this county opens question that ought
to be settled before another election takes
place.
While there is no doubt that this tran
silent element has cut quite figure in
Gloucester county elections during the last
few years, it is only right that the RESPONSE
biiity should be placed where it belongs.
If the County Board of Elections did not
grant voting certificates to that class of
voters, the duty of the township boards
would be clear in the matter; but it seems
certain that to some extent at least, the
County Board has held that they are
legally entitled to vote here.
An instance that occurred year ago last
Fall will serve to show this.
In one of the townships in this county
where a considerable number Of these
Southern colored farm hands are employed
every Summer, a dispute arose in the
election board as to their right to be
registered two of the members contending
that they should be registered, while one
of the others opposed it.
Finally it was agreed to leave the matter
to the remaining member, who had taken
no part in the discussion.
His decision was that inasmuch az there
was considerable doubt as to whether or
not the parties were legally entitled to vote
here, it would be best to not register them,
but require them to go before the County
Board and obtain certificates before receiY-
ing their votes The entire board con-
Cured in this, and the applicants for regis
tration were SO informed.
On election day the colored brethren in
question appeared at the polls, aimed to
man with the required certificates, and
were accordingly entered upon the registers
and their votes received, as the law directs.
The member who had been in opposi-
ton thereupon announced that he had
frequently been cautioned by his party
leaders against registering these men, but
since the County Board had decided them
to be legal voters, he was not disposed to
incur the penalties of the law in the future
by refusing to register any voter under
o;.u.:Io- vou,,oeko,aas
To what extent such action by the
County Board has Influenced other town
ship boards is not known, but it is evident
that while the County Board grants certif-
Gates to that class of voters, the local cleo
ton officers will not take the responsibility
upon themselves of refusing to register
them.
1t may be an open question whether men
who are in the habit OF going from one
State to another to work part of the year
can claim legal voting residence in the
latter State, but in the face of decisions by
the County Board to that effect, few town.
ship boards care to assume the risk of
violating that section of the law which pro-
vides that -.
If any member of the Board of Registry
and Election shall willfnlly refuse TO enter
in the canvasing books or upon the registers
any person legally entitled to vote, ETC.,
such member shall be punished on conYic-
ton, by fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding
two years, or both, in the discretion of the
Court"
If those farm hands from Maryland and
Virginia have no legal right to vote here,
the fact ought to be generally understood
and voting certificates should not be grant
ed to them. If they have legal right to
vote here, the duty of township election
officers to register them is plain and should
not be questioned.
The whole problem apparently hinges
upon the question as to whether they live
in New Jersey eight months In the year
and go back to Virginia on visit during
the other four months, or live in Virginia
four months and visit New Jersey during
the eight months. When they are willing
to swear that the former is the case it
would seem to be somewhat difficult to
prevent them from voting.
Erpprr NJ T Sont 9Th 10Y