The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-11
PRUNING THE
VOTING LISTS
Enrolment Committee After
Renegade Democrats.
REMEDYlNG fLAGRANT ABUSES
Considerable Reduction In Caucus Strength
Is Assured From The Lineup In Mayor
ally Contest Last Year.
REMEDYING FLAGRANT ABUSES

The subcommittee OF the Democratic
city committee appointed 10 enroll tho
Democratic voters of the city met in the
Woods building yesterday afternoon.
Chairman David j. Barr OF the city COM
mittee presided. Mr.. Healy OF Ward 2
was absent end so were w. ]. Rankin OF
Ward 3 and Mr.. Carroll of Ward 5. Mr..
Rankin came in as the committee was
adjourning.
This was the second meeting OF the
subcommittee and every man present
was an opponent OF the despicable traitors
who have In two campaigns undertaken
20 deliver the Democratic organization
over TO the Republican state machine.
The only printed list Of voters obtainable
In any ward comes from the board Of can
vassers.
On such lists are the names OF Demo-
Gratis, Republicans, Prohibitionists and
those favorable TO the Socialist-Labor
party. Previous 10 the passage OF the
caucus law the warden Of a Democratic
or Republican caucus could refuse a mans
vote on the ground that the man offer
ing the vote was a known Republican or
Democrat and was in the wrong caucus.
TO REMEDY FLAGRANT ABUSES.
Though under the old system there were
abuses. as in Democratic wards, Repub-
leans used some of the surplus in their
caucus and in Republican wards Demo
Gratis were used in the interest OF the ma
chine, yet conditions were not as bad as
under the caucus law passed by the gem
eral assembly.
Caucus wardens after the passage of
the law were obliged to hold that II a
mans name was on the list ne might vote
at the caucus, though he might be the
leader OF the opposition. There were
some fragrant abuses. and TO remedy these
the Republican legislature OF 1902 passed
an amended law, giving the city commit
tees of parties power to enroll the party
members.
The Republicans took advantage OF the
NV law, but the Democrats did not until
this year. In Wards /, 3. 4. Q and ~.
through the aid OF the police, Repub-
leans were voted In large numbers last
fall at Democratic caucuses and delegates.
supposed TO be favorable to the wrecking
OF the Democracy. were elected to party
conventions. hat these delegates re-
fused to do the Infamous work laid out
for them was no fault of the Journal
Dorney combination.
ENROLMENT COMMITTEE ACTS.
The enrolment committee was forced 10
take the lists furnished by the board OF
i an NEflH dAh ~ ANhN 80 49,
party in the different wards strike off the
names OF known Republicans. This was
the only way an enrolment COULD be Sc
cured.
The Journals attempt to make this
enrolment matter appear a contest be-
tween Mayor Miller's friends and oppon-
ents Is amusing" said a prominent Demo-
crat today. 80 far as politics go" said
the same party, 1.-THE Journal is but an
adjunct Of the Holden-Perry machine.
Some Of the men II Is trying TO make
martyrs OF were frequent visitors at the
Republican headquarters last fall and
handled Republican money. In one ward
The Journal thinks II terrible because a
policy runner and n gambling proprietor,
who did the machine work at a caucus,
IS scratched and Is also struck wordless
because Dorney, who was fired from the
State Central committee, IL believes. was
scratched. The trouble Is that enough of
the traitorous leaders were not rejected
and made hereafter to fight I'm the open
In every ward The Journal makes IL APP
pear that only Democrats were stricken
from the list, whereas, in fact, a list as
received from the board Of canvassers
and registration for a ward does contain
hundreds OF Republican names.
Asst YEARS LINEUP.
on the lineup Of voters last fall, which
was the proper thing to judge by, ac-
cording 10 the Democratic leaders, the
Republicans cast for Freeman for mayor
in Ward /. 1862: Ward 2, 1917; ward 8,
l11: Ward 4. 1904; Ward ., 1912: Ward 6,
1925: Ward :, 1880; Ward s, 1890; Ward 8,
1918. and Ward 10. 97S.
These totals admit for the reduction of
the voting lists for use in Democratic
caucuses considerably. A Democrat whose
name Is stricken off has the right TO APP
peal TO the executive committee OF the
party and due notice OF the meeting OF
the committee will be given.
There was n good deal OF comment
in Ward 3 today when reports arrived
that certain officials elected I'm the ward
charged with secret and open dealings
with Republicans were announced az left
on. Members OF the committee on en-
rollment said that these men had been
elected as Democrats and until charges
were presented and proved against them
the committee would not be justified in
striking their names from the list.
In Ward 10 no one was rejected. save
those who participated in Republican
causes or who were known TO have aided