The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-09-06
Injustice Of Election Laws.
lCommunicated1


i
1882 emigrated to North Dakota
There I lived continually until Jan
uary, 1900. I was out of the state
twice about six months once to Col.
|orado, once to Canada. All Of this
| time lived either at c., S. a. or G.
F. Eight years ago / had been living
at S. Fl. until about August, thinE
when I went to O., a distance of 27e
miles by rail, and discovered when
went to vote at G. I was not qualified
to vote there, but must go back to s.
H., which meant s16.76 car fare and
three days time and expenses. Then
four years ago left G. F. in July and
was continually at G. unail Noven-
Der, and then was again disqualified
to vote for president and vice, presi-
dent at c., and if I wished to vote
must 60 back to G. f., distance by
rail Of about 200 miles, which meant
three days again and s12 and ex-
penses. Under the circumstances it is
quite q consolation to be told one
never loses his citizenship in this
country. That is true when it comes
Eto war they would gobble me up
wherever ! might happen to be II they
run short Of help. In this case, how
ever, they would pay the freight,
wages and expenses.
Might not man as we'll be dis
qualified to vote in every case except
he pay $50 or 825 for the privilege as
in such case when necessity compels
this change OF residence in thousands
sof cases and choice in as many more!
AS I remember, the tourist read
one years residence in state: six
months in county and 80 days in q
precinct next preceding election. BY
the terms of this law (so-called at
least / was disqualified to vote at G.
as / had not been in county but
four months. This four months out
Of the county Of G. F. would have as
certainly disqualified me to vote at @.
F. as it qualified me to vote at @.
But while their conscience would not
allow me to vote at c., and they saw
no provision of law to qualify me. at
G.. f., yet was assured that could
vote ut G.. f.; but if their law meant
ANYTHING I was just as disqualified to
vote one place us the other.
II Again, where does every state in the
union derive its power from to estab-
lish and separate any different laws
for voting at national elections when
the constitution OF the United States
declares that every white male citizen
not d prison convict nor inmate OF an
insane asylum OF sound mind shall
have the right to vote.
1t is certainly only justice that one
law govern national elections. a
man should have the same right to
vote for president in Washington as
Id Florida. In 1896 attempted to
talk an editor into writing up and
publishing the substance OF this ar
ticle. He couldn't see the right OF
such laws, and told me to write 1t up
and he would gladly publish it in his
paper. was willing to be disquaii-
fed when it came to that part of the
deal: but he insisted that / should,
and I had declared ] would on the eve
Of battle of the ballots, but never
did and believe he didn't. Today /
again tackled an editor but he is a
republican also, and excused himself
also by appointing me, and | immedi-
ately went at it.
True, there are many greater, more
vital questions before us, and this
may be trivial, yet it is certainly true
that an election might be lost or won
if all American citizens were given
the rights guaranteed them by the one
article of the constitution, and if it is.
annuled or amended in any way be-
yond proof OF citizenship, why should
il be?
State elections may perhaps be gov
erned by each state and all be differ
emit and still be best: that's a different
subject. Even then I believe county
and state elections would be we'll sep
arated. Then, of course, women
should be allowed to vote under the
same regulations as men. That is. ii
they are governed. They surely are,
except in some domestic cases, and /
think it must be the fear of them in
spired by some of the deals of misery
inflicted by some OF these that hold
he men so Mortified at the idea of |
roman's rights.
AN UNQUALIFIED VOTER. |