The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-13
REGISTER! I!


Unless immediate and wdesnread
and activity IN the matter of registration many perhaps
thousands OF citizens will find themselves partc
pauon IN the political of year. NAV not be
wholly true who to register
deserves to lose his vote but certainly entirely
VINO tails to register dsranses himself strong may be
m enng that the present law requiring registration
necessarily burdensome does from the oblea
ton to perform this essential duty any voice in the
choice OF public servants in the shaping public policies
No doubt much of the present apathy result of failure
on the of citizens areacng Importance
the questions to be passed the polls They
do not relate merely the choice members of
the general assembly To the citizens Providence they
than that for included proposed amendment to the
tuion which is to be submitted the people approval is pro-
vision providing for the division city assembly districts
When it is recalled that this division will by general
assembly in which the country in absolute control
ough their dominance in the be readily imagined
what sort will be- Were proposition simply to increase the
membership the house representatives hundred in order
that Providence might be given that bod
than is now permitted her there would question to the
wisdom of supporting it.
coming as does weighted down with condition opens
wide the door partisan gerrymande provision urtaing
the power of the ballot OF the citizen this amendment
proposition that ought opposed by the voice and the
vote OF every man who believes What
the designing proposition ask of the citizens
providence is the ratification of that will allow
noorously hostile selfish majority the senate to divide this
CITY INTO assembly districts to further its partisan purposes
without regard to the wishes the rights of the people They
ao that the individual citizen for all cand-
dates for the house for an amendment
under which he candidate out Of tenv
FIVE.
This is the scheme the opponents constitutional reform and
te enemies OF popular the
election next November and they will who can
qualify themselves electors by registering and thus
prepare themselves defeat this attempt the part of the
arrogant and toofty country perpeuate control of
the functions OF by further usurpaton abrdsemen
OF the rights of the people of Providence.
The question that citizen is whether bv reose
ing he will assist in repeng this upon municipal rights
and integrity whether by neglecng register aid con-
spracy to rob the ballots of the of nearly all
their power and effectiveness This than public
issue Every is directly concerned His right franchise
no less than the ys welfare is vitality affected that under
sueh circumstances there will considerable nte
gent cizens SO careless unpatrot register
1t Is sincerely hoped this
duty No aid be expected board of
In the way facilitating registration That made clear bv
Chairman Whitley in his statement representative
Gay when IN answer question he said the deem
necessary the give the citizens
better opportunity their registration list
man wants very badly chairman he will register
all right and will coming to this Office" No doubt bt
does Mr. Whitley his colleagues there are hundda
OF men who desire and yet the pecuniarv loss
t1e leaving OF their work register would involve?
lhese are the whose hours before the regis
auon once open and continue until closed If some of
nave saturday hahoday they to reesa
o 'o me registration office is closed For such visit 20 the
IN the evening would be distinct boom that Chairman
he ana the other members Of the board receive the sub
anual salary OF $4,000 year, disposed to grant
pay OF greater interest in the accommodation d
ne people would seem to be by ample sums thev draw
rom the public treasury but remembered tha, lust at