The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-12
PLANS FOR
REGISTERING
VOTERS

AS the month is slipping by and the
prospects Of the closing OF the registration
are getting better and better IT is becom'
ing evident that because Of the amount
OF labor entailed and the resultant loss OF
time from business there will be a large
number of the citizens not plentifully en-
dowed with the goods OF the world who
will be practically disfranchised this com
ing election, because their names do not
appear as registered by the first day or
July.
The people who have looked into the
matter OF reasons for non-registration fnd
that 10 the average workmen the time
necessary for him 20 leave his place or
business and come down TO the city hall
10 have his name affixed 20 the registry
lists would mean considerable slice OUT
OF the money upon which his family is
dependent for subsistence. Unless he has
an unusual interest in the issues al stake
he does not ordinarily feel able 10 take
the time of
II there was a chance TO register In his
own ward I'm the evening when his days
work was done there would be no diff
Guilty IN getting his name on the lists and
then the result would more nearly be 10
get the views OF the people when II came
TO an election.
II was suggested that the system OF
having a certain evening in the week for
registering I'm each ward and thus catch
ing the voters at home the same as Paw
tucket. Central Falls and Woonsocket are
doing now and the same as practically all
the towns are doing and have done for
number OF years.
NO NEED OF 1T.
When Chairman Whitley OF the board
OF canvassers and registration was asked
by The News reporter II there was any
thing that he knew Of 10 prevent the can
vassers from going into the different
wards for night and registering he al
lowed there was none. save that there was
not the slightest need OF II that he can
see
IF a man wants 10 vote very badly he
will register all right and will not mind
coming TO this office to do so. There is
another point. too. II there was a con-
troversy about the eligibility OF a man.
we would have none OF the paraphernalia
or dut1 m settle the question thepe In the
ward"
''why not hold that man up and regis
ter the other two or three hundred that
there would be no question about. was the
question:"
Mr. Whitley replied that the scheme
would not do at all i'm n big city like Prov
idence where there were ffty-nlne dis
tricts. "It does very well where there are
only aDont dOZen people or so 10 be reg
istered in the district. but II would not
work here. AS ] said before 7 do not
think there is any need OF this plan I'm
this city"
Speaking OF the matter OF keeping the
ward and party workers informed OF the
progress OF the registration Mr. Whitley
said: Our books are not open TO the in
spection OF the public at all. That ques.
tion was settled two years ago. We are
responsible for the books and as that IA
true l do not see how we could let any
and every one take the books and look
them through 1t used TO be the case
am told that the citizens who came 10
register would have to wait until the
clerk was through with II and In some
cases the man would get tired and go
home.
I'VE, OF course. furnish the certified
copies OF the lists when the parties apply
at 81 each. the regular legal rate. That
makes $50 set and even then we cannot
neglect our routine 10 prepare them. The
parties generally get these out two or
three weeks before election