Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-18
Injustice of Election Laws.
lCornnunirm,cd.l

was born in Illinois in 1888. In
1852 | emigrated TO North Dakota.
There lived continually until Jam
uarv. 1900. was ont of the state
orado. once to Canada. All of this
time | lived either at c.. S. II. or G.
f. Eight years ago had been living
at $. ii. until about August. | think
when | went to c., a distance of 216
miles by rail. and discovered when |
went to vote at c. was not qualified
to vote there. but must go back to S.
H.. when meant $l6.16 car fare and
three days time and expenses. Then
four years ago | left G. f. in July and
was continually at G. until Novem-
Der. and then [ was again disqualified
to vote for president and vice presi-
dent at c.. and if | wished to vote
must 90 back to O.. +. a distance by
rail of about POO miles. which meant
three days again and So and en-
penses. Under the circumstances ii is
quite q consolation to be told one
never loses his citizenship In This
county. That is true when it comes
to war they would gobble me up
wherever | might happen to be if they
run short of help. In this case how
ever, they would pay the freight.
wages aud expenses.
Might not q man As Wei pe dis
qualified TO vote in every case except
he pay $40 or s2,5 for the privilege As
in such /, case when necessity compels
this change of residence in thousands
of cases and choice in as many more:
A. | remember. the law read one
wear $ residence in state. six months
in county and 90 days in a precinct
next preceding election. BY the
terms of this so-called at least
was disqualified to vote at &. AS |
had not been in Il county but four
months This four months out OF
the county of G. f. would II ave !"
certainly disqualified me 10 vote at G..
+. as ii qualified me to vote at G
But while their conscience would not
ALLOW me to vote at {. and they saw
no provision OF law to qualify me at
G.. f. yet was assured that | could
vote at G. T.: but if their law meant
anything | was just as disqualified to
vote one place as the other.
Again. where does every state in the
union derive its power from to estab-
fish and separate any different laws
for voting at national elections when
the constitution of the United States
declares that every white male citizen
not a 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. y
man should have the same right to
vote for president in Washington as
in Florida. In 1896 | attempted to
talk an editor into writing up and
publishing the substance of this an
ticle. He coulden't see the right of
such laws. and told me to write it up
and he would gladly publish it in his
paper. | was willing to be dlsquali-
fed when it came to that part of the
deal: but he insisted that should.
and | had declared | would on the eve
of battle of the ballot. 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 he lost or won
if all American citizens were given
the rights guaranteed them by the one
article of the constitution. and if it is
anuuled or amended in any way be
vond proof of citizenship. why should
it be-
State elections may perhaps be gov
erned by each state and all be differ
ent and still be best: that's a different
subject. Even then | believe county
and state elections would be we'll sep
arated. Then. of course. women
should he allowed to vote under the
same regulations as men. That is. If
they are governed. They surely are
except in some domestic cases. and
think it must be the fear of them in
spired to some of the deals of misery
| inflicted by some Of these that hold
the men SO mortified at the idea of
| woman rights.
| AN UNQU ALIFIED VOTER.