The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-26
DO 1T NOW.

There in Providence today more thar
fnIooo men who can, by registering, qualify them
selves as electors but who have thus far failed tC
do So The impossibility OF registering this vas
humber of tardy citizens within the four days thai
yet remain before the closing of the registration
lbooks Is too obvious to require emphasis
That thousands will be shut out and deprived
lof ballot in the rush and crush of the eleventh
hour awakening to the necessity of discharging an
important civic duty, is certain. Such con-
summation will doubtless furnish keen enjoyment
for the outrageously partisan board Of canvassers
hnd registration, but it will afford neither amuse-
nent nor satisfaction to the men who find them
selves disfranchised
The issues in this campaign are the most mo-
Inentous the electorate of Rhode Island has ever
been called upon to settle. They affect not only
the wellbeng of the whole state, but the rights
and interests of every citizen within its borders
For the first time since Braytonism made Sc
cure its degrading and dsgraceiul control of the
governing and lawmakng functions, the people,
regardless OF previous political affiliations. have
united Tor supreme effort to rescue the state
from the thraldom of as unconscionable a gang Of
tricksters as throttled decent representative
government in any American commonwealth
No man worthy the name of American citizen
or fit to exercise the rights that citizenship coners
will wilfully disqualify himself for effective SER
vice in the army of the people Yet disqualification
will be the portion OF every citizen who fails to
inscrbe his the registration roll before the
doors of the city hall are closed next Saturday
night.
FOR the citizen who has neglected this inn
portant duty there is but one safe course 1t is to
pO IN he elf hall NJ
day after tomorrow, but instantly, and register.
With every passing hour the number seeking to
register will increase, which means longer wait
in line for those who delay
Wageworkers who have been denied proper
opportunities to qualify themselves as voters should
at whatever personal inconvenience or loss get their
names upon the registry books, because it is only
through a triumph of the forces of reform at the
polls in November they can hope to secure more
just and decent treatment in the future than has
been accorded them by the Braytonized regstra-
ton commission during its existence.
The man without a ballot like the soldier
without weapon, is impotent; and there can be
nothing more humiliating to man of loyalty and
principle than to be helpless to give aid while
his fellows are battling in just cause
So clear is the duty Of sef-respectng citizens
such large body of them has as vet not dis
charged the essential duty OF registration
For those who are earnest in their determine
ton to do a mans part in the battle for honest
representative government there is still an oppor-
tunity to comply with the law and equip them
selves with the ballot
Let every man holding such sentiments put
aside Tor the moment other matters requiring his |
attention and nscrbe his name on the registration
list at once
Delay at this time is almost certain to work
disfranchisement Every name that should be on
the registration books and is put there deprives
the forces OF reform OF ballot and gives aid !
and comfort to the agencies of corruption and evil
Register while there is yet time. Do not wait
until the last hour and run the risk of finding your
self on the outside when the doors OF the city hall
are closed.