The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-08

About two months ago one OF the
members OF the board OF assessors OF
Pawtucket was heard 10 remark that
when the board got through with the
Third ward this year the oldest in
habitant would have difficulty In recog-
mixing NE voting list from that sec
tion. II was a boast or a threat or
something OF that kind. and IL shows
the desperate straits which the Repub-
lican machine find itself.
This week the work OF the machine
made and machine-ruled board was
made public, and IL is a disgrace TO
honest men. There have been vile at
tempts at Acknowledgement OF voters I'm
the past and some OF them reached the
ears OF the public, but this is about
the worst and most outrageous trick
that has ever been perpetrated In this
city. Just how many of the Demo-
cratic voters have been dropped from
the personal property list is not known.
Nor is II known yet just how many
Republicans have heen added - 'h~
lists The interesting part OF Il all
lies In the fact that except for the dis
francnisement oI "A l.,. ..t.. ,..
vention OF the reelection Of one Of
the present councilmen, who probably
would not have stood for a renomina-
tion, anyway, the trick has accomplish
ed practically nothing.
EXPECTED DIRTY WORK.
The Democrats were expecting Just
this dirty work ana prepared for II
by having their men register, even IL
they were on the personal property
list. So far as changing the complexion
OF the city council from this ward Is
concerned that would be a task which
the board OF assessors has hardly the
power to accomplish. no matter what
its will might be- There was only
total Republican vote Of 29s cast I'm
this ward for mayor last year and II
every one OF these were placed on the
personal property list IL would not
equal. within 143. the number OF votes
cast for Alderman McCaughey. 80 II Is
easy 10 see that the delegation Is still
going 10 be Democratic
But the evident purpose was more of
a personal character IL was apparent
~ aimed at Councilman Joseph a.
Hughes and his colleagues. but Mr..
Hughes is not touched I'm the slightest.
for some time ago he made the pur-
chase OF a tract OF real estate. and he
will continue TO be among the property
voters. for with all the unfairness OF
the laws OF the state they do not yet
place II I'm the power OF board OF
assessors to take real estate from its
owner
Councilman Fitzpatrick. however. Is
not SO fortunate. and he will be only
a registry voter. and consequently he
will be unable to hold a seat In the
next common council. However his
place will be filed by another good
Democrat.
About the only thing that has been
accomplished by this raid on the per-
sonal property voters is TO take from
the lists a very few who failed TO regis
ter. IL may be that this was the sole
reason for the trick, and III it was IL
shows that the protestations which tho
Republican leaders are making, that
they have secured a great advantage
by the resul,s~of the registration this
year. are nothing but wind
WORKS DIsFRANcHisEMEN
But the action Of this partisan board
will again call the attention OF the
people to the necessity for n revision
OF the state constitution. IL is GER
tainly a strange and un-American law
which places IL in the hands OF three
men, elected by a a partisan city coun-
Gil, dictated to by a powerfl political
machine. the power TO actually disfran-
chise free American citizens IL mat
ters not who these citizens are. They
may be possessed of any amount OF
personal property for the amount sig
nifies nothing.
They may have been citizens OF the
state for many years and be possessed
or the very greatest qualifications for
casting an honest vote at the polls,