The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-27
PROGRESS OF REGISTRATION.

On Saturday last registration reached the
highest total for any day of the present year. when
6ss names were placed upon the lists. This brings
the aggregate for the current political year up TO
77o6, an increase of 1875 over the figures at the
corresponding date in 1906.
This result is not only cheering in itself, but it
proves beyond the possibility of contradiction the
contention of those who claim that if reasonable
facilities were afforded the registration in Provi-
dence would be greatly increased over the present
average which is about fifty per cent of the pos
sble total
Mayor Mccarthy inaugurated and the city
council made effective request for the keeping
open OF the Office of the board of canvassers and
registration Saturdays during the months OF
MAY and June from a. NJ. until p, 1t is TO
the larger facilities thus afforded that the gain in
registration this year is chiefly attributable. And
this gain il is TO be remembered, reutes the argu-
ment that the non-taxpaying citizen is lax in per-
forming the duty of registration and does not care
whether or not he has ballot
During the debate on Senator Gardner's bill
requiring the board of canvassers and registration
to visit each of the ten wards during the month OF
June for the purpose of facilitating registratona
debate which was followed by the defeat of that
most worthy measure-Senator Williams of Brs-
toll chairman of the committee on special legisla-
ton which recommended indefinite postponement,
took occasion to make some exceedingly flabby re-
marks in support OF the committees recommenda-
ton.
He asserted that registration is particularly
easy in this state since it is permitted the whole
year round, ignoring the fact, which experience has
taught not only here but elsewhere throughout the
Union, that men register voluntarily and without
prompting only within comparatively few weeks
OF the day of election, when issues and men are
under discussion. The year-round registration is
a political trick; it processes to give the non-tax-
paying citizen ample opportunity to qualify him
self as an elector; but when it is remembered the
registration period closes more than four months
in advance of election it will be seen that there is
more sham than reality in this pretended liberality
AS matter of fact, if the registration books
were opened on the Ist of July and closed on the
last day of September there would be a greater
incentive to registration among the citizens who
vote on registry.
However, a change in the registration period
can be secured only by change in the state con-
sttution--the Republican machine took care Of
that for its own interests and for the interests Of
those who depend upon it for public place and
public emolument.
But thoughtful Rhode Islanders have not for
gotten that while opposing Senator Gardner S
measure for reasonable registration facilities for
the citizens OF Providence that hidebound creature
of the machine, Senator Stoddafd, took occasion
to insult every man in the commonwealth who is
not taxed on real or personal property when he
declared Some registry voters couldn't be got out
with shot gun; not even il you took the book to
their houses and should not be allowed TO vote.
You should wipe them out"
"Wiping them OUT is what the Republican
machine has been doing for decades; but the regis
try voter here in Providence refuses to be wiped
out Such record that of last Saturday shows
he is patriotic and earnest in his desire to discharge
the duties of citizenship if given even only limited
facilities.
1t proves more: that he is willing to make
every possible sacrifice in order to assist in the
patriotic work of giving Rhode Island represen-
tative government and able and clean admins
traton of its public affairs