The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-10-30
ELECTION
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| POINTERS

Roswell, N. M, Oct. 20, 1908.
The Daily Record,
Roswell, N. NJ.
Gentlemen I am enclosing you
the circular letter received this day
from the Attorney General of the Ter
ritory of New Mexico, giving sugges-
lions for calling and conducting the
| general election, to be held in this
TERRITORY on November 8, 1908.
/ give you this circular letter from
the Attorney General for he reason
that I believe it will be of interest to
all your readers and every voter of
the county, providing a. it does and
pointing the way for the holding of
a fair and legal election.
/ desire to supplement this letter
by saying hat as district attorney of
the 9th District OF the Territory of
lNew Mexico, 1 shall adhere to he
instructions given me in said letter
and will vigorously prosecute all IT,
regularities Or frauds in connection
with the holding of said election of
which 1 may have knowledge or which
may be brought to my attention thru
any reliable channel or source. Yours
very truly.
L. o. FULLEN,
District Attorney.
The Record gives the main portions
of the attorney generals letter, omit
ting only such items as do not refer
directly to the election or which can
have no application to the actual pro-
ceedings of election day, being pre-
liminary matters. The vital points of
the circular letter are as follows:
Publicity Of the Election.
Section 1887 of the Compiled Laws
of 1897 provides that no person shall
approach the voting place a distance
of less han ten yards, except the
judges and clerks of election, the per
son voting and one person to act as
challenger for each political party
Outside of this ten yard limit, how
ever, the election should be entirely
public. and all persons who desire
should have the right to be and re-
main during election hours upon the
premises where the voting is done.
The officers should be present at
each polling place to see that there
is no disturbance of the peace, and
20 see that voters approach the polls
and cast their votes unmolested, that
the people congregated at the polls
do not approach nearer than the stat
utory distance as required, n that
no person shall exclude any other
person from the premises where the
voting is carried on; If any person
becomes d~isorderly OF violates the
law, it is the duty of the officer to
arrest him and make complaint ag-
ainst him as In case of any other vio-
lations.
chaIiensers.
Each political party is entitled at
the election to one challenger, to be
appointed by the Chairman of the
County Central Committee of such
party. Such cha1lengers have a legal
right to remain at the polling places,
on election day, to which they are
respectively appointed, and to remain
sufficiently near the window where
the votes are being received, to ena-
BILE them to properly perform their
duties, and are entitled to protection
while in the discharge of such duties.
Penal Statutes.
Section 1886 Of the Compiled Laws
of 1897 prescribes a penalty against
any person who influences or attempts
to influence any person to vote a Ger
tain way or to refrain from voting by
the offer of any reward or by any
threats, and Section 1862 makes it an
offense for n voter to receive a
bribe.
Opening and Closing the Polls.
Section 1859 OF the Compiled Laws
of 1897 provides that the polls shall
open at 900 O'clock a. m. and remain
open until 800 o'clock p. m, and that
after closing the polls the votes shall
be counted in public by the judges
| with the assistance of the clerks. The
statute makes no provision for an ad-
journment at the noon hour.
After certifying the result of the
election the judges of election must
give certified copies thereof to the
parties interested who may ask for
the same, not exceeding four in num- |
Der.
Qualification Of Voters.
The following are the general quail |
.idcations of voters: |
He shall be a citizen of the United
States Of the age Of 81 years, shall
aua raSIdod In tho Tarriforr e /