The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-09-14
Gov. Blanchard OH the Itegistra-
ton Law.

Governor Blanchard has addressed
the following letter to each assessor
of the State:
Dear Sir: For the first time In the
history of the State a primary cleo
ton ordered by law will he held. pre-
sumably in January. for the nomi-
nation Of all State and local officers.
1t is the purpose Of the administra-
ton to see to II. as far as lies In its
power. that this election Is absolute
~ fair to all candidates.
An important feature Of this pri-
mary election IL the registration Of
voters preceding 1t. As the assessor
tf your parish, you are the registrar
of voters for the parish.
The legislature intended. and ] 80
instruct yoi, that every facility
should I've given to those entitled to
do so to register.
The list OF registered voters. as the
same may appear on the registra-
ton books of the several parishes of
| the State, in a permanent roll. to tD.
added tn from time To time. and
there il. therefore. M need of an en-
tire new registration.
This roll may he supplemented by
adding the names of all persons
| qualified to register. who may offer
To register ut any time, provided
they present themselves for registra-
| ton ut the court house uf the parish.
Section % of Act 100 Of 1893 .lecla res
that the registration books shall he
at all times open To inspection, pro-
yided the same does not interfere
with the work OF registration. Cop
les of what the books show are en-
titled to Ire procured by those who
desire same.
Section % 0f the same act prohibits
| the assessor from opening his books
on any boat or water craft. and pro-
hibits him from going to unusual
places under preteuse of affOrding
opportunities to voters to register.
Section 81 of the same act makes
the refusal OF the registrar, or clerk
of registration, to register any per-
demeanOr punishable by fine or i'm
prisonment.
The registration Office should he
kept open all the time during the
business hours of each day for the
puTpOSc vi ItestrtcTiuS SoUcVS IS ttlty
may appear. The registrar of voters,
or the clerk of registration, should.
therefore, be, every day. during the
usual business hours, at the Office Of
the assessor at the parish seat Of
the parish.
Act No. us Of 1904 should be con.
suited by You IN tn the hours for
keeping the registration office open.
and for other duties OF the registrar
of voters. But, In connection there
with, you should also consult the
Primary Election Law (Act No. 40
of 1906. That law seems to require
that the Offices of registration should
be open prior to the primary election
and kept open. since, under section
- thereof, no voter is permitted to
take part in the primary election
who shall not have registered at
least ten days prior to the date of
the primary election.
This contempIates, of course, that
the registration Office shall he kept
open prior to such primary election
and to within ten days Of such cleo
ton.
1t also requires that seven days
prior to the primary election the
registrar of voters shall make a CON-
plete list of all registered voters in
every voting precinct in the parish.
certify to same, and, within three
days before the primary election. de-
liver the same to the respective par
ish committees of the parties holding
the said primary election, and this
without cost or charge whatsoever.
While there Ia no period of time
fixed I'm the primary election law
when the registration Office shall he
opened. the fact that the net fixes n
date prior to n primary election when
the registration Office shall he closed.
seems to carry with 1t n legislative
Interpretation that the registration
office Is always open at the court
house.
This is the view Of the attorney
general aud In 1t concur.
From this time ON until ten days
before the date fixed for the primary
election. You will keep your Office at
the court house open each day, ex-
cept Sundays and legal holidays. dur
ing the usual hours Of business, and
register all who apply for registra-
tion. and who are entitled thereto
under the law.
Clerks OF registration are appoint
ed by the governor and | wish you
to send me the names Of a competent
man for appointment as clerk In
your parish. This man must be fair
and strictly impartial. He must
not he an active partisan OF any can
didate. He must be Il man who Is
far more anxious to discharge fairly
the duties of his Office than to further
the interests of any candidate. He
must himself lie a candidate for no
office In the parish or State.
Where there are two or more po-
litical factions in the parish. the man
you name to me for clerk should be
one acceptable To the leaders Of the
factions. They should be consulted
In his appointment. | reserve. Of
course. the right to make an appoint
ment independent Of the man you