The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-16

The action of the board OF canvassers
in throwing out nearly l00 Fourth ward
ballots cast for Or } e. Budlong Tor
alderman Is not only arbitrary but un-
warranted and the legality OF such pro-
cedurc Will in all probability be passed
upon by the supreme court.
Secretary of state Bennett stultihes
limsclf aud has put the state TO unncc-
ossarv expense in having such iustruc-
iion sheets printed With that explicit
paragraph NO. e. displayed, as are all
the other Paragraphs iu bold type
tie SAYS IL was an error and yet he has
heen repeating thar error Tor several
years past auG misleading 5o0o earnest,
honest inteulioned voters In every poll
ing district town and city throughout
the state
PREPOsTEROCs POSITION
To aysume sucli an inconsistent posi-
tion h. preposterous and he can't throw
the blame Is a typographical error
back on the state printer for para
sraph A-s-wltlL- thI-clllcr ia-Psrasraphs
making up The Instruction shect-appears
above fn authorized FAC 5imile OF his
own autograph
Not only did he mislcad the army of
voters hut even deceived the election of
fcers-wsrdcps, clerks and supervisory
sworn 20 an impartial performance OF
their duties and 10 faithfully follow the
instructions issued ny him who next
30 the governor. holds one Of The high
est offices IN the gift of the state.
And the Samc is true as TO city Clerk
Clarke. although ho may have been guild
cd TO somo extent bs thc secretary OF
states instruction sheet. lie cannot
throw the blame onto the city printer
nor onto the state printer were il pos
sibe for -tuFtruction sheets are
Identical. paragraph for paragraph. the
fac siinile autograph OF the respective
Official bclns the only necessary and legal
difference.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT.
Oyer TEN years ago the Ballot Reform
law was enacted and during the past
decade tens OF thousands OF these iustruc-
tioa sheets have been printed and sent
50 the various polling districts OF the
city and state For tho supposed eulight
eminent Of voters and the guidance Of
election officers And az what cost?
Thousands of dollars. Another fact that
should set conservative taxpayers and
indignant voters tu thinking seriously
On Tuesday morning. Nov. s, 1901. at 10
q clock in his office IN the City hall, when
the question Of using stickers was called
80 his attention by The News representa-
tive, city Clerk Clarke produced one of
his instruction sheets and said:
"Of course I would rather have the
law department decide by my personal
opinion, and / have sirnpy quoted the law
| in my instruction sheets, IS that voter
has right TO use a sticker or paster. Sup
pose a man writes hts name on the ballot
i~nt that n mark moro distinctive and
Distinguishing than a printed slip. OF
course IL is
And city Clerk Clarke was. no doubt
rsht The handwriting OF an individual
~ certahTfy q more distinguishing mark
than tho printed name of the candidate
preferred by the voter
RESULT IN cry AND STATE
ln justice 90 Dr. Budlong the nearly
io0 ballots should have been counted and
recorded ln his favor. n the opposing
candidate wished 10 enter n protest then
The triumvirate could and should refer
the matter Ca the supreme court
Thevery recount ofvotes cast I'm this city
at the recent election aud mow In progress
~ the same boarl demonstrh ted tho wis
klom as we'll az equity OF such "a course
ln tho Third ward 100 votes with stick