The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-08

When the office of the board of canvassers and
registration at the city hall closed at o'clock yes
terday afternoon total of o653 names had been
placed on the registry list This is gain of 1000
over the total the corresponding date of last year
and 1t is certainly encouraging
However, there is much work yet to be done if
the on-taxpaying citizens are to have that impor-
tant share in settling the vital issues to be
determined at the election next November, for
which they can equip themselves by registering be-
fore the close of the present month.
There yet remain but IS full days for registra-
tion and there are probably $4,000 citizens who
have not yet qualified themselves electors. 1t
will be seen, therefore, if much more than the usual
percentage of the possible registration is to be
cured the citizens themselves must take even great
er interest and display activity than they have
already done.
Grumbling at the adverse laws which compel
them to register four months in advance of the cleo
tion will do the citizens who vote on registry no
good whatever. They confronted by condi-
ton and not theory and that condition cannot be
changed for the better until legislature representa-
tive of the people has been chosen and such an as
sembly can be elected only by the aid of registry
voters.
The first duty, therefore. of the who de-
sires to real representative government and an
honest administration restored to Rhode Island is
to qualify himself as an elector In that way only
can he aid in promoting the work of real political
reform in Rhode Island-not the bogus reform pro-
posed by the Wetmore purity league-but the real
substantial and sincere reform represented by the
peoples leaders, Colonel Robert H. l. Goddard and
Governor James II. Higgins.
Every registry voter should find a particular
incentive to discharge his full duty this year in the
fact that it was only by very narrow margin that
the forces of reform failed of complete victory in
November last. A little more effort in this city and
In the other cities and towns Of the state in the pres
ent campaign ought to insure sweeping success
on November next
1t ought to insure the election of Legislature
that will not only send Colonel Goddard to Wash
ington as the states junior senator but that will
take steps for the Inauguration of those reforms in
the organic law upon which all other reforms are
directly dependent
81 The News-Democrat has heretofore pointed
out that the Democrats and Independents in the
legislature of 1907 actually represented 325ooo, or
about 81 per of the total population, while the
Republican members of that body, though in the
majority represented only about $4,000 of the
population, or about 33 per cent.
This is of gross inequality in representa-
tion and means that here in Rhode Island the
minority rules. 1t Is condition never contem-
plated by the founders either of the republic or o
the commonwealth, but it is condition that cannot
be altered for the better until the non-taxpayng
citizens realize their public duties and discharge
them effectively by registering and by voting right
at the polls.
Never before in Rhode Island were the pros
poets for complete triumph of the of honest
reform bright they If these hopes
are not fulfilled on election day it will be largely
because non-property owning citizens fail in the
present duty of registering.