The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-02
WANTS TO KNOW
IF HE CAN VOTE.
NJ. V. Johnson Writes to the
News-Democrat.
HE MOVED TO WASHINGTON.
With Intent To Stay II He Liked It-was
not Suited and Came Back
wants To Vote For
Bryau.

The following letter has been received
by the News Democrat. 1t is self-ex-
planatory, yet raises a question that
may come up in many precincts Of the
county on election day, hence letter is
published followed by the opinions Of
several persona whose position should
enttle them to be competent to express
an opinion on the matter. The letter
follows:
Pierce, o., Oct. 27, 1900
Editor Democrat:--As 1 am regular
reader of your paper I will ask a favor
of you. The question is, can / vote for
Bryan in Pike township this fall? VIII
state my case. l moved to the state Of
Washington in September, 1899, intend
ing to stay II / liked the country but
did not, and came back February, 1900.
Have lived in Ohio all my life. l would
like for you to find out IL can vote
this fall and let me know soon. There
is another Bryan voter here in the
same fix that / am. Answer and obige,
NJ. V. JOHNSON.
The letter was submitted to the city
board OF elections, the chairman Of
both the Democratic and Republican
committees and others. Their decision
can be found below:
George II. Clark, member of the
board of elections said:
"He is out The intent governs. The
law says, paragraph 5 and 6, section
2946:
'5. If person move to another state,
with an intention to make 1t his perman-
ent residence he shall be considered to
have lost his residence in this state.
ts, .t1 1,.,,.
state, with an intention of remaining
there an indefinite time, and as a place
of present residence, he will be con-
sidered to have lost his residence in this
state, notwithstanding he may enter
tain an intention to return at some
future period" ~
Hon. John C.welty said:
''The intent governs, and It will de-
pend very largely on what the gentle
man may be willing to swear to as to
his intentions. l.-.slsu. sAa
Patrick L.. Manly, chairman of the
Democratic county committee, when
seen, said: ,n,.,ts, ,.a
IF he is q married man and he re-
turned with hfs family, there Is no rea-
son why he should not vote. He has n
right to vote somewhere, and If he did
not stay out or the state year, he
can vote here. Even If he Is a single
man he has rightto vote"
Rhodes l. Gregory, who was standing
q. near, said there was similar. case IN
the Second ward. A man named Hogan
was in the same predicament. II think
both men have a right to vote" said he.
U. S. Johnston. chairman OF the Re-
publican county committee, said: my
impression off-hand is that he would not
be entitled to vote, but would not care
10 say positively unless 1 looked it up.
IL he intended to come back to his old
residence 1t might, be different, but he
might have Intended to go somewhere
else If Washington did not suit him.
That might have some bearing on the
question" p o-r . - 3,
A. McGregor, member OF the county
board of elections, when seen, said: =
"That Is matter for the judges-of the
election in that township. They can
cross-examine the man and get at his
real intent. My opinion is that If he
moved there and settled down and only
came back. because he did not like it,
he loses his vote" ,o,. ,-,cr-.,