New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-02
POLITICIANS SURPRISED.
A LARGER ENROLMENT EXPECTED.
REASONS WHICH APPARENTLY INDUCED MANY
MEN TO REFRAIN FROM REGISTERING
THEIR NAMES.

Politician, IN the city said yesterday that they
had been disappointed at the size OF the enrolment
under the new Primary Election law A mucn
larger enrolment had been expected. Consider
ing that about 1--WE hundred thousand men voted in
the city last fall. 1t said 10 be remarkable that
only about one hundred and thirty-seven thousand
Of them signed the declarations OF party animation
under the law. While II s expected that many
voters who were opposed 10 signing and acknowl-
edging the declarations WILL appear at the sup
Elementary enrolment May 10. the politicians
agree that they have been surprised at the small
enrolment thus far in view OF the easy method or
enrolling by signing declarations Of party afiation
and in view of the efforts made by the workers In
the organizations TO induce voters 10 enroll Nearly
two hundred thousand men who voted for Mayor In
the county Of New York last fall have failed thus
far TO qualify for voting at the primaries Of their
political parties In June. and the new law was
framed with the express purpose Of increasing party
enrolments and making the vote at the primary
elections the representative action Of each party
Reasons for the opposition to enrolling under the
new law have been discovered by the politicai
workers some Of whom said yesterday that the
law never would have been passed II the reasons
had boon known in advance. As soon as 'ne
poli,ical workers began seek out voters and ask
them 10 enroll under the new law tney IearH'"
that the majority G: the voters were not Wiling
20 have their political preferences made pubic.
Under tho law the names OF the voters who enroll
addresses and their party preference. Thousands
NJ small tradesren in the city fear that they VIII
lose trade and perhaps be subjected 10 persecution
# they proclaim their politics 70 the "o,u'
Thousands OF men employed AZ salaries rear Una.
they would lose their places II they announcer
themselves publicly 10 be Republicans or Demo-
Gratis Thousands NJ men in the city who are IN
denondent and have no fear OF business losses or
~ nersscutlon have declared that they were I'M
willing 70 place themselves on record as pelhs
affiliated with any political party. as they wanted
10 be in a position 10 vote for the candidates "hoH
they might consider the best In either parry a
Republican politician. who has been leader IN
his district FOR several years said yesterday
Il heli,.e now that 1t WIS a mistake 10 proV'oe
FOR tho publication Of lists OF enrolled men. In my
district # is impossible 10 get many good Repuon-
cans 10 enroll. Shopkeepers alorg the avenue VINO
ha.e voted the Republican ticket for years are not
going 70 have their mares put In the heP"o'' al
lists for publication FOR fear they may ne SUD
tect ID ~ ANNOYANCE ~ tho instisaton OF Tammany
politicians Clerks employed by Democrats are not
willing 70 or,calrn themselves publicly as Repuo-
i,ans Even tho letter carriers are atrald 10 en-
ron men trn Isu >,ili work VOL however. II the
p,,.H't.on leader 81 n district is asked 10 DO ?
rolifcal favor for Tammany man or ior y M, s,
who not enrolled. no can slnlpIf '", , Isor,od
and satisfy himself that tho favor Is i9' 49, ~,
\ .ui y,as brought - the attention - the
nri@ials OF the Bureau ~ Elections ~" "lht nag,
l4H
~ ',', ,ncrch M went - the bureau and SAID ne
wanted the record OF his enrolment cnangeq, .,
4 alvay- vote as my boss votes. ne salu an"
have INST changed hoss"s ! nave peen rya ~
ran fcr Republican. and voted me ltepu pm.
,irkcf 700 buf have changed places ana nm
nov. co,chman for a man who votes INC i'"l,u
rrafic ticket enrolled - a Repuhican' ana 10"
v1ri 10 enroll as a Democrat 49,.
Or,cials Of tho Bureau ~ Elections say wa
,herc probably have been many cdse4 OF lII'S"i
.,,,ir,.,,r hv declarations. Many men VINO NOV
,r,r fhei- election districts after the c'c'.on
IN have signed declarations and nave mao 49,
..,,.ron,e of,.u through ignorance OF IN" chald
,.- ~ me d.rlaratiou. When D." lStS .Ai" pUg
u,hcI and Investigated such cases oi - - 80 nv,
~, -~.horiv will Doe disrover' ana II me mn
ILL., ,yo enrolled Illegally appca 1T The primaries
their votes can hr challenged ,. .x,,,g %
Dsrii,.~ tolls a good story about 'rying 20
e., some colored voters 20 register under ne new
sve,cm lie took them UP 10 IN" place OF chr" rt
,rcr, and gave them fhe papers 10 ssIh ~.
leader II the mon. clever sort 'i ,'o~V' fs"' '''
,.rer c,roiullv and then threw = down ,,,
~ Won, sicn that boss" he said. heclslN'Iy.
That's 'llstin and don't want TO go 10 no " :,
.",b,rg Could change hts id"a and he walked on
a-f ali tho others followed him