BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-10-15
SAE% JUAN, OCTOBER IS
Editorial Comment.

All reports from the island, even
those taken from different and contra
dictory sources go to confirm the official
advices, that the first day Of registration
passed off without any unusual distur-
bance, or difficulty. There were differ
ences in the various municipalities.
These were and are insignificant On
the whole the parties conducted then
selves in highly ereditable manner
that is, those who were on hand to do
their duty as men, and not to act like
school boys.
From Cayev news came that the Re-
publicans would not let the Federals re-
gister. From Vega Alta, it was report
ed that the Federals would not let the
Republican judges of election act. From
Tuana Diaz it was stated that the Act
ing Justice of the Peace was arrested
for undue nt9rference. Petty and ui-
important complaints were taken up by
the Supervisor and the Governor and
properly disposed of without any undue
excitement or distress. Incidents of
this kind we're considered as sure TO &C
cir in all elections.
The lesson of the first days registra-
tion, however, is that, The old refining
habit Still seems to prevail on the island.
The retirement of one voter might sea1l
reasonable to anyone, but for a whole
party to refuse TO register IS sognet nlng
which cannot be grasped by the aver
age American. In all the history OF the
United States and the separate States, il
is impossible to find one single ms
tance of party retiring from an cleo
ton. Candidates have been retired.
but only, or most generally, when
some political combine had been affect
ed which gave the retinng party a bet
ter chance to win. A man giving up his
constitutional rights, simply because he
cannot win is something beyond con-
ception.
The excuse that offered, intin)ida-
tion or violelce is no excuse at ali.
Lack of police protection is also no ex-
cuse. The government does its full
duty when it places policemen at the
polls to keep people in orier, and pre-
vent men from being Gro ded out Of
line. That is all thar the governments
of the states do.
Il New York or in any other city OF
the Union, they do n0s send policemen
to voters houses to escort them To the
polls. Neither do they have armed
guards, or regiments OF soldiers patrol
the streets. This wolld amount t.
greater intimidation than any that Could
be thought OF, Protection from assault
at the polls, OF in the stree,S is ali that
any admins ration can give voter,
Police protection does not mean that
the police authotities can compei
election judges TO register or vote men,
whom they do NOT think qualified. If a
voter, or prospective one, goes TO the
polls and is refused permission to vote,
Or register the penal laws make ample
provision for his redress and protection,
and he should hasten TO tie nearest JUS
tice Of The peace and iasist upon his rights
He should seek the cooperation OF his
party leaders. That is what party lead
ers are for. If voter IS sure of
safe conduct from his home 10 the po-
ling place and return, and is certain
that he will be free from molestation on
the streets at any time that that he
chooses 10 go upon them, then the police
are dong their duty.
From a reading of the telegrams
which came from all towns. on the is
land yesterday, it is seen at once that
the great bulk of complaints are against
election judges. or watchers, for failing
. to register voters, or for refusal to COM
ply with the law. There is absolutely
nothing to indicate that the police failed
to do their duty.
TO insist that the police should be
given the right TO interfere at the polls
or to order the judges TO do certain
things, which they do not desire to tio,
wculd amount to an inSistence upon ar
bitrary police power of the most tyran-I
meal kind.
The police should remain on the
streets and keep order The election
Judges are responsible to the people,
aud the Courts and their acts can
always be judged in proper time.
There IS no law which permits the
lnsular government to catch man by
the arn and compel him to register or
vote, neither is there any law requiring
him to give every voter a regiment of
soldiers for his propectioa. If a man
desires to vote he can do SO anyWheIe I
III Porto Ricp andi he does rot care to
vote there is no power in tie island
that can compel him to.
The alleged ssaiement of Acting
Governor Har,zell, that he has seen it
worse in Colorado seems to be just
the proper thing. OF course there is
no telling whether or not he made the
remark, for the source OF its pallica-l
tion is nota very reliable one. If he
did however and we certaif,1v hone that Il