Omaha daily bee., 1900-10-27
REGISTRARS ARE TOO STRICT
Strain the Law Relating to Foreign Born
Citizens Almost to Swapping.
MANY OLD RESIDENTS ARE DIsFRANCHIsEl
Men who Have voted in Pottawnt-
tamie County for Forty Years Are
Now Denied the Right to Ex-
ercise Franchise.

Unless the registrars modify the require
ments that they insist the law calls for
number Of naturslized citizens will probably
be disfranchised and unable to vote at the
coming election. In issuing his instruc-
tions to the registrars City Clerk Phillips
stated that all foreign born citizens In reg
istering would be required to give the date
and place of receiving their naturalization
papers or else produce the papers them
selves.
This is what caused the trouble yesterday
and at least thirty old time citizens. who
have either mislaid or lost their naturaliza-
tlon papers were not permitted to register
Several were able to give the year they re-
ceived their papers. but we're unable to state
the exact day. which was insisted upon by
the registrars. Several complained to As
sistant County Attorney Kimball and unless
the registrars modify the requirement in
this respect the matter will be called to the
attention OF Judge Macy in the district
court for ruling
Old Timers shut Out.
Several persons who were refused regis
tration because they were unable to produce
their papers yesterday have been voters in
this county and city for the last forty years
and this is the first time they have been
an old soldier who had cast his vote for
John c. Fremont was denied registration
yesterday because he could not produce his
naturalization papers and had forgotten the
day on which he received them, although
he was able to give the year TO the best Of
his memory. In the second precinct of the
Third ward the registrars refused to take
the name OF a man who has been a resident
OF this county for the last forty years. He
is a Frenchman by birth, but took out his
papers shortly after coming to this country.
He has voted at every election since becon-
ing a citizen AMI this is the first time that
he has been denied the right to register.
His papers were lost in fire several years
ago and while able to give the place where
he received them, he is now unable to re-
member the date.
S. G. Underwood, one of the old residents
OF this county, one OF the Oldest voters in
the city. was refused registration, as he
had lost his papers and could not remem
ber the exact date OF them Luckily he was
granted his papers In the district court here
and after a search Of several hours through
the ancient records in the court house the
original entry was found and he was thus
enabled to give the date and secure his
name on the registration lists.
County Attorney Killpack, when appealed
to. expressed the opinion that the registrars
| we're strainng the law somewhat and that
| 1t was an unreasonable requirement to ex-
pect a naturalized citizen to give the exact
day when he was granted his papers. He
thought 1t would work great injustice on
men who had voted here for years and
| whose right to do so had never before been
questioned. He will probably take the mat
ter up with Judge Macy today II necessary
VIII Make a Test Case.
| Last night it was decided TO make a test
case and application will be made early
this morning to Judge Aylesworth of the
superior court for writ OF mandamus to
compel the registrars to register some for
eign born citizen who has lost his naturali-
zation papers and cannot remember the ex-
act date he was granted them. The mat
ter was intrusted to Assistant County At
torney Kimball and Attorney Ferrier, who
are preparing the papers. Last night 1t
had not been decided whether to have the
writ issued on the registrars In the frst
precinct Of the First ward or on those In
the second precinct Of the Fourth ward.
but 1t was thought that II would probably
be on the latter.
The result Of the second days registra-
tion was most gratifying and at o'clock
last night, when the registrars closed their
books for the day, 1t was estimated that
the total registration in the city for the
two days showed about $500 names AT
this rate the total registration is expected
to reach In the neighborhood Of 5000 The
registration in most of the precincts up to
last night was estimated to represent about
two thirds Of the vote.
The registrars will be in session today
from a. m. to 8 p. m, after which electors
will not have a chance to get their name:
on the books until Saturday OF next week
The places where the registrars are in ses-
sion In the different precincts are as fol
lows
First Ward-Frst precinct. Victor Jen-
| nings barn. East Broadway; Second pre-
cinct 2l9 East Broadway,
Second Ward-First precinct. City build
Ing. Bryant street; Second precinct, re
| West Broadway.
Third Ward-First precinct Chicago
house. corner Willow avenue and Main
street; Second precinct 9Cs South Main
street
Fourth Ward-First precinct, $40 South
Main street; Second precinct, Kelly house
| 1872 South Main street.
Fifth Ward-First precinct. County build
ing, Fifth avenue and Twelfth street; Sec
ond precinct. County building. oil South
Thirteenth street
Sixth Ward-First precinct County build
ins. Avenue B and Twenty fourth street
Second rrecinct. residence of Charles Nege