New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
PRIMARIES ARE NEAR.
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS HAVING A
BUSY TIME PREPARING FOR
SEPTEMBER II
POLITICAL CALENDAR.


Second day Of registration .Saturds October
Third day OF registration Friday october Is
Fourth day Of registration Saturday October 10
Polls ............6 a m hi 5p m
The Bureau Of Elections is rapidly perfecting
arrangements for the primary election on Tues
day. September Il II is expected that the new
law will at that time have its first real work
ing test Under its operation the individual
citizen has a much better chance to make his
vote count in the formative stages of the cam
paign than hitherto. The evils and injustices
OF the old system are well known among voters
A small, crafty clique could get together and
fix up primary ticket which would receive the
brand OF regularity. The average citizen not
only could have no voice in its composition. but
he would be absolutely powerless to prevent this
made up ticket no matter who was on IT, from
running the entire course of prediction routine
after it received its initial momentum. Under
the old system the regular delegates elected
at the primaries often were men who cared
nothing for the ultimate success of the party's
ticket at the general election, their main desire
being TO keep control Of the election machinery
The new law gives the independent thinking
voter voice in the prediction work. provided
he and his fritnds do a sufficient amount Of
hustling. II the independent voter and his
friends poll more votes than the machine"
leader Of the same political faith. the machine
is on the side Of the big vote. The new law is
q boon to experimenters and faddists in politics
who like 10 bask in the sunshine Of inde-
pendence and then return 10 the machine when
it rains The law says:
No organization or association Of citizens for
the election Of city officers shall be deemed 4 po-
membership in any such organization or associa-
ton shall not prevent an elector from enrolling
with. and acting as a member OF, political party
gs oFr Ta,-
the municipal campaign near at hand a vote
by any Democrat against the Tamuany machine
candidate Will not disqualify that voter from
subsequent association with the regulars The
primary law and the secret ballot come pretty
near giving the individual voter absolute liberty
Of action Every voter may enroll on the day
he registers. The custodians Of primary records
compelled to see to IL that sufficient enrol
! ment books provided for this purpose. Be
tween now and September II the Election Com
missioners will advertise the location Of the
primary polling places. which are TO be equipped
with booths. the same at general election.
any party which at the last election for Gov
ernor polled at least 10000 votes is entitled TO a
| separate column and emblem on the primary
ballot
The voter who enrolIs subscribes to the fol-
lowing declaration:
I, who have placed mark underneath the party
emblem hereunder Of my choice, do solemny de-
clare that have this day registered voter FOR
voter Of the election district in which have so
registered, and that my residence address is as
in general sympathy with the principles Of the
party which have designated by my mark here
under that n IS my intention TO support generally
at the next general election, State or national the
nominees OF such party for State national Offices
and that have not enrolled with or participated
IN any primary election or convention Of any other
party since the first day Of last year.
This declaration is on an enrolment blank, on
which are blank spaces for the enrolment num-
Der and the name OF the elector. The names on
the enrolment books are TO be kept secret the in
spectors being forbidden to allow any access to
them until after election. when they become
public records.
Only enrolled electors may participate in the
primaries.
No elector who has once enrolled in political
party shall be permitted TO enroll in another
political party before the regular registration
days
No person is required 10 enrol. and his failure
to enroll will not affect his right TO register and
vote.
The Board OF Elections is directed to divide
Assembly districts into primary districts. each
of which is to consist OF two contiguous election
districts. In each Of these districts desig-
mated two polling places One Of these polling
places is exclusively for the party which at the
last election for Governor cast the highest num-
ber Of votes. and the other is to he used by all
! other parties.
No primary election shall be held in a saloon
! or drinking place, or in a room which is more
! than flight Of stairs from the street
When a voter is challenged at a primary he
must take an oath. and he cannot vote unless he
| does make oath that he is the man whose name
| has been given. and that he has lived for the
| twenty days last past at the place given as his
/ home.
No eIectioneerng at the primaries is permis-
/ Eible within hundred feet Of the polling
| place, while the polls are open
The canvass of the vote Is to be conducted
1 with the same care as at a general election.
Commissioners voorhees,. Mcguire. Page and
Dady find plenty to do these days in preparing
/ for the primaries and subsequent registra ton
/ and election On the upper West Side and in
! The Bronx a lot Of district carving has been
/ 10 a single district In many of the upper West
! Side and Bronx districts there was registra-
| ton Of about 1000 last fall. In some of the
/ smaller downtown districts there have been
| consultations It costs about S4O0 a year to
/ man and run primary. registration and polling
! place, and there have been eight ten con-
! solidatons in the other parts OF the town where
| stores and factories displace the tenements.
The designation Of registration and polling
/ places is an almost endless job. The fine
work. OF the small election district leader comes
into play here. Selecting a polling place is re-
least one election district captain has been de-
tected in demanding rake off, of S. or SO
/ for designating a polling place, the rent for
which is $50
! 10 examine the inspectors or election and the
ballot and poll clerks. The incompetent ones
! are rejected and the acceptable ones are sworn
/ in. All the election district machinery, such
] as booths and other equipment. is carted to the
proper places. under contracts supervised by the
/ board There a thousand and details
connected with the making Of maps the meas
uring of polling places. the printing OF ballots
/ and stationery and the recording Of data that
make the Election Bureau an exceedingly busy