The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-30
Election Commissioners Provide
for Care of Ballots on
Next Tuesday.
CHALLENGING OF VOTERS.
Judges Are to Be Supreme When
Rights of Citizens to Vote
Are Questioned by
Challengers.

In accordance with the custom tna' IDS
been practiced by the present BOARD Oh
Election Commissioners in rendering oe
cisions with a desire to be equitable TO an
parties concerned, regulation was es-
tablshed Friday In a regular meeuns' AT
tended by the three members. Whlch gives
the Republican and Democratic parties
equal advantages.
This regulation applies to the disposition
and custody of the ballot boxes and Keys
the ballots and all official papers and aD-
purtenances that will be under the control
of the Judges and clerks in all Of the 1888
precinct polling places in next Tuesdays
election. The regulation was approved by
President McCaffery and Judge Wood. the
Democratic commissioners. at the request
of Republican Commissioner Hobbs. who
expressed much qualification over the in
clination of the Democratic members 10
readily consent to his propositions.
The arrangement provides that the Demo-
cratic judges will be custodians of all ar
ticles in one precinct polling place and the
Republican judges in the next polling place.
The plan will be effective throughout all
the wards. the subordinate election ofn-
cials who will act as custodians to be oess-
mated in rotation. according to precincts'
by the board This policy will equalize the
responsibility and power between the Judges
and clerks OF the two principal parties.
In polling places where the Republican
Judges will be custodians they. will have
Complete charge of the ballot boxes, with
the contents. the keys TO the boxes ana an
documents relating to the vote The same
plan will be operative in polling places
where the Democratic judges VIII be cusio. 10,
dians 1t is unnecessary TO state that the
boxes will be locked and sealed after tine
ballots shall have been counted and peiose OF
the boxes shall have been delivered TO the
judges of either party.
A misstatement was made FRIDAY In
morning paper in reference to the instruc-
tions to be given to the judges and clerks
regarding the challenging of voters. That
publication announced that a person who
might be challenged would not be entitled to
vote The statement was said to be de.
cision of the board All three members OF
the board denied that Interpretation Fri
day. and explained that the board had aP-
proved a suggestion of Commissioner HOODS
to practically contrary effect.
nv the hoard is in line with the idea that
the judges and clerks are supreme in tneir
respective polling places. II a person oe
challenged the challenger shall be obliged
to assign his reasons therefor. The judges
will then put the challenged person under
oath and question him. If a majority of the
judges decide that the challenge Is not sus-
tained the vote may be taken and counted.
Many ward politicians called at the main
Office Friday and procured lists Of the reg
istered voters of the precincts in their
wards. Any registered voter may obtain a
list of his precinct by applying at the main
office in the new City Hall.
The board will convene as a Court Of Ap.
peals at 10 o'clock Saturday morning and
will remain IN session until noon No more
cases will be heard after noon. Only about
Thursday and Friday on appeal. The ap-
peals sessions will conclude at noon Satur-
day.