El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-01
POLITICS AT A
WHITE HEAT
Theft Of the Petition Has
Stirred Up the Town.
THE PEOPLE ARE AROUSED

THE PEOPLE ARE AROUSED
Great Indignation Was Expressed To-
| day Regarding the Action OF the
County Commissioners In Ignoring
the Petition For Registration and
| the Opinion Prevails That They
Should Have Acted Upon 1t After
| 1t was Stolen, As 1t was Properly
Before the Court.
| The latest Ell Paso political mystery
is the disappearance OF the registra-
| ton petition. which was submitted to
the commissioners court last Monday
and not acted upon although F. B.
Simmons was appointed registrar to
| serve two years.
| Registrar F. 3. Simmons called at
the county clerks Office yesterday af-
ternoon and qualified for the Office,
but said he would not be able to re-
| Rister voters this year for the commits
sioners had not acted upon the petit
tiOn, which had been submitted to
them by D. S Farrell. TIE petition
had been lost.
This startling news had the effect of
| throwing local politics into a turmoil
and bringing the political situation to
q white heat.
Those familiar with the workings of
| the democratic gang were expecting
some sort of surprise prior to election,
but were not looking for an outrage of
this kind. They knew that something
was in the wind but could not tell Just
what il was.
This morning the theft of the petit
tion was the talk of the town.
The registration law wBs adopted by
the state OF Texas to prevent whole
sale fraud at the polls and all citizens
opposed Ito corruption are believers in
the enforcement of the law as directed
tion for its enforcement during munich
pal elections.
The petition was last seen Mon
day at noon, after 1t had been properly
submitted to>the court. Its loss was
discovered soon after dinner, but no
thing was said concerning its dissp-
pearance until yesterday after noon just
too late to prepare another petition and
submit it before court adjourned.
THE DISAPPEARANCE.
The petition was presented to the
commissioners Monday morning by d.
S. Farrell. who also submitted q re-
quest to be appointed registrar.
County Judge j. r. Harper. who is
chairman of the commis missioners'
court, said that D. Farrell was nom
mated by the petition for the position
of registrar.
Commissioner Harris suggested that
action be deferred until the afternoon
as he understood the members of the
city council desired to protest against
registration.
Judge Harper said that the action on
ho
deferred, but he saw no reason why
registrar should not be elected at once,
as D. S. Farrelrs name was already in
nomination.
The commissioners agreed to his
suggestion. Mr.. Courcbesne nominst-
ed F. B. Simmons who was unanimous
ly elected.
D. S. Farrell then withdrew, leaving
the registration petition lying on the
table, where the Judge had placed it
without unrolling it.
It was bulky package. The Eclerk
said he saw it but it was never given
into his keeping, nor filed with him.
1t was left on the table during the sd.
journment for dinner and when court
resssembled at 2 o'clock it had walked
of and could not be found, although no
one was especially anxious to find it, so
far as is known.
JUDGE HARPER'S STATEMENT.
County Judge Harper, when seen
this morning by HERALD reporter,
said:
"Farrell came in and laid the petit
tion for registration and his own ap-
plicatiOn down on the table, saying, Il
want to present petition for registra-
tion.'
"Mr. Courchesne took up his ap-
plication for the position of registrar
and read 1t.
'Mr. Harris moved that action on
the petition be deferred TO allow time
for discussion. 1 suggested that we
appoint registrar without delay and
f. b. Simmons was appointed. Farrell
walked out leaving the petition rolled
up on the table. 1t was there at noon.
pesred and could not be found. 1t was
never filed with the clerk nor in his
hands.
Il understood beforehand that Far
rell did not intend to submit the petit
tion for registration unless he was ap-
pointed registrar and do not consider
that the petition was ever properly
brought before the court and we had
nothing to do with it and nothing to
act on.
81 was under the impression that
democrats did not want registration
and am not in favor OF it myself.
John O'Keeffe. himself, did not
want registration and l do not see
what this kicking is about. The city
will be saved about 5000 needless ex-
pense.'
DEMOCRATS STATEMENT.
1.-The whole thing was cut ana dried
q month ago." said a prominent de-
mocrat. st WAS no surprise TO any,
body who was in a position to know
what was coming.
Il do not want INV para