The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-22
REGISTRATION HOAXEs.

downtown ward:
Ono Of the Republican Judges in pursu-
ance Of his sworn duty, the cheat
tempted. and offered 90 for verGcation
to the Jefferson Hotel false address
given. No he the
than . larger body Of the gang Joined the
others and assaulted him. Pistols were
drawn and tbs Republican Judge took to
flight The gang fired on him he
and a bystander killed Thus pro-
cseds the reign OF bloody fraud in st.
Louis
This editorial from the Globe shows that the
Globe il not more familiar with the provisions of
the election law than are many Of the Republican
Judges and clerks. If 1t does not indicate that the
Globe is ignorant Of the laws provisions, then II
shows that the Globe is ready to misnform the
public for party ends even at the risk Of fatalities
Had the Republican judge Of whom the Globe
writes remained in the polling place. ~ he should
have done, he would not have been a party in any
trouble. The services Of this judge were needed in
the polling place; they were not needed at any ad-
dress given by applicant to register nor on the
street. Had the Judge understood the law he would
not have gone forth for any purpose.
The election Law contains adequate precautions
to prevent padded registration. and these precau-
tions are practical The law provides that every ap-
pcant to register shall be put under oath, and shall
be asked certain questions. and shall be registered
Every spplicanrs name has to be entered in the
resstess And whether every applicant is qualified
or not shall be determined by the judges.
The verdict Of the judges 10 entered after every
name in the register II applicant Is qualified the
decision s written in the register; II he is not
qualified such decision is 20 written. And the law
says Unless . majority Of the Judges shall deter
entered not qualified, subject to the applicants
riRht of aDDeaI N hefeis Drovided"
1t is clear, therefore, that the Judge whom the
Globe mentions did not need to leave the polling
place. On the contrary, 1t is clear that 1t his
duty to remain in the polling place II he believed
that the applicant was not qualified he had only
to sey so. and an entry that the applicant not
qualified would have been made In the register.
Citizens should take the provisions Of the law into
consideration before arriving at conclusions from
assertions based upon partisan motivea They
should consider every assertion calmly and from a
practical standpoint Then not lswlessness but law
win have the support Of public opinion; and the law
IL more competent than Is lawlessness to produce
fair results and to prevent trouble.
It is seen that the Law specifies that every appli-
cant has to be registered; that every applicant
registers by adavit that the judges decide whether
the applicant n qualified not, and that the favor
able or unfavorabie decision Of . majority Of the
judges is entered after each name in the register.
The chief object in this is to permit everybody to
register; another object is to detect and punish
everybody who may register wrongly who may
commit any crime.
The law is practical in this respect. II reposes
responsibility in the Board Of Registry. in the Board
Of Election Commissioners in the courts and in the
prbc After the registration ID completed the lists
verified by the Democratic aud Republican clerks
together II these clerks, canvassers detect any
false registration, they report to the Board Of
Registry but they also notify the citizen concerned
both by mail and by notice personally served The
Board Of Registry. at its meeting, decides whether
voter is qualified; and In 20 doing, the hoard is
oblised to consider a sworn statement from any
citizen Of precinct. II the voter u not satisfied