The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-18
Strange Predlcaments BefalI Many
0ld-Timers = Some Amusing
Sides Of the New Law.

hi'ih " phl''t - 9VN NV hpt ~ lltdlt
oitizen--tha, Is. II you are a male but
not cthzen-you had better Dig up
your naturalization credentials or
have Judge Gray make you out a
brand new set Otherwise the elec-
tlon officers wiz know you not and you
win be overlooked like white chip
at church social. For. verify, In
this year Of grace and prosperity. a
new election law has been added un-
to the statutes and all who would
vote must be not backward In com
Ing forward with It's restrictions to
The new law Is n cumbersome COM
pllation OF red tape and monkey-busi-
noRs but II IL wlthal an Improvement
over the old harem-sclrem System. II
Is the BEST we've got and inasmuch
~ the writer's ideas and directing
influence was not sought prior TO It's
by the author. II VIII
HhNt ~ 10 Ank AHt VlNnHhRs
o o
After all. u Isn't such tremendous
Job for one TO register II you live
within the city limits OF Astoria all
you've got to do Is 10 fill out blank
supplied by County Clerk Whcriiy In
which you enter your full name and
what you do TO keep the wolf from
gnawing at your front door Then you
tell what sod frst attracted your at
tmtlon and at what particular period
OF the earth's rotation around the sun
II occurred. Thoe are a few minor
questions that cannot well be evaded
md after you have convinced the
clerk that you havnt lied 10 him by
raising your right hand-if you have
'ne. otherwise. the left viii do-and
saying Il do" you are turned loose.
The clerk does the rest.
o o
II ls the unfortunate fellows who
ion't live within the inspiring radius
Df our municipality and have no use
or plug hats THAI may contemplate
the registration mill with fear and
trembling. not unmlxed with becom-
ng quantities OF deep-sea dialect.
When lumberman. for instance
ioes to the registration officer-who,
IN the country. Is q notary or justice
he don't saw wood" And he can't
be much blamed, for he is Immediately
'onfrontcd with a document like this,
which he must decorate with his sig
nature three times. bringing along two
Il his next door nelghbors 20 prove
that he is really not scion OF Euro
'ean nobility living incognito:
II. the undersigned elector. do SOL
'mnly swear (or afiirm) that my name
md signature as signed below Is my
rue name and signature. IL | have
not personally signed II, II Is because
,..,.., ,..,,..,.....,,....,.; and IL was
'igned at my request by the attesting
Ulcer. My age is......". years, and
occupation NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
lauVitN ,,.,,,,..,.,.,,......; natural
zed (or declared my intention) in..
court, In .......,,..,.
county, ,,,...,,,,.....,. state, on .....
1900, as appears by the
naturalization papers exhibited here |
with. Present residence is In sec |
township. p...,,...,, range |
......,., ..,.,,..,.,,,..,, county, Ore 1
son, Tor II In town or clty) at No. |
street, In the city
n ...,.......,..,.; / occupy room -.
On the ....,,....... floor; that / have 1
resided In this state during the six
months immediately preceding this /
election"
This important document Is then !
forwarded TO the county clerk by the
ssulng officer who receives the mu-
nllicent sum OF ten cents for his part
Of the Job later on. That is. he DOES
Il the man casts his vote; otherwise
he receives nix cumerouse.
q o
All In all, the new law is raising a
lckens OF rumpus, There are
scores of them who. in the past, have
been going along year after year,
'asting ballots for president. govern
,r, congressman and what-not, who,
IN fact, have not the right to vote
n the selection OF poundmaster. |
And the whlchness Of the thuSness is
lust coming TO the surface. Men Of
orelgn birth who have never been
or who have lahol,ed nm /
Ter the mistaken idea that their slres
lad done so before them, have en-
oyed unmolested the privilege Of the
ballot box along with Governor Gear
nd Harry Scott, but, alas!-- no
AS result of the present law 1t Is !
that fully one-third of those
who have voted in the past will
stand around with their hands in
their pockets on next election day.
Some funny Incidents viii no doubt
develop out Of the new regulations
In coming years, Dame Fortune
sometimes does some high kicking
within a year or so, and cuts some
awkward capers with the career of
man. For illustration, let us take the
case Of Mr.. Johndorf Wal
,ob Astorbllt, q distinguished finan-
cier. He is entered upon the regis