The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-03-29
THE PLOT
that FAILED
fragrant Scheme to Disfran-
chise Half the Voters
FOR CITY ELECTION
Law Enforcement League Discloses the
Trick Too Soon.- Registration
Still Goes On.
FOR CITY ELECTION

was the skin game attempted by the
Law Enforcement League yesterday
in the matter of registration. A de-
fective ordinance appears in the print
ed volume of the city which was real
ly Typographical error. Under that
ordinance the impossible feat of regis
tering at one Office 500 voters in nine
hours is presumed, but at no time has
it ever been attempted. The law-abid-
ing clique yesterday attempted the dis
reimbursement Of half the voters Of
this city and were doing very nice
business when the regulars caught on.
The word went out among the puri-
fiers that all their people must be at
the registers Office as soon as the
books were opened yesterday after
noon, and be as slow about register
ing as was possible, at the same time
getting in enough votes to insure car
rying the Monday election.
BY published notice registration had
been officially announced to continue
for three days, but the defective ordin-
ance under which registration was had
provides for registration, Thursday
preceding any election, from to 10
O'Clock p. M, further along the COM
pensation OF such officer is stated to
be So for each day upon which he
ference that he is expected to sit
more than one day.
But the plan was working admir-
ably yesterday before the regulars
caught on, and at about o'clock they
rushed in about 100 voters, but it was
not enough. The Law Enforcement
League boastingly asserted that they
had won the game and that registra-
ton had legally closed for this cleo
ton. They proposed to fight it out
on that line.
The regulars had been caught nap
ping, but all their senses had been
alive to the emergency for several
hours, and long before the registra-
ton Office closed a special meeting of
the city council had been convened at
which MI. Mayor and every member
was present, one alderman hastily
arising from his bed to which he had
retired early, not feeling we'll, so as to
be present at this meeting which was
to insure the franchise to every voter
in the city and block the game of the
purifiers.
Upon the question of amending the
registration ordinance there was not
a dissenting vote, and Clerk Gray
speedily drew up the substitute, which
was submitted and carried by unani
nous vote, and signed by Mayor Grif
fin within the hour. One council
man, Mr.. Smithers, who had been up
to this time rather inclined toward
supporting the movement of the puri-
fiers, could not stand for the vicious
attempt at disfranchisement and re
corded his vote for the amended ord
nance as emphatically as the rest.
By the passage and approval of the
following ordinance it will be seen
the intent of the law is displayed and
registration will continue three days
and until Saturday night:
ORDINANCE NO. 112.
An Ordinance to amend section three,
article l, chapter 5, of the revised
ordinance of 1899, of the city OF
kalispell.
Be it ordained by the city council
of the city of Kalispell:
Il Section l. That section /, of article
1, chapter 5, of the revised ordinances
OF the city of Kalispell, be amended
so as to read as follows:
| Sec. /. On the Thursday next pre-
ceding the day fixed for the holding Of
any election, the person selected as
registry agent of the city shall meet
at the place designated or, if the same
SHALL uCL UG COuNcultuI, IllSlI dI OOult
other place within the city, of which
change notice shall be given by post
, ing at the former place. Such regis
try agent shall attend at the place
!. designated at l o'clock, p. M, of sale
day and shall remain on duty as such
registry agent every day thereafter
from l o'clock p. M, until 10 O'Clock
p. M, of each day until 10 o'clock p
M, of the following Saturday aftel
said Thursday.
Sec. 2. All ordinances, resolutions
or parts of ordinances or resolution.
in conflict with this ordnance are here
, by repealed.
Sec. 8. This ordinance shall be il
full force and effect from and afte
it's passage and approval.