New-York tribune., 1908-10-08
THIS YEARS REGISTRATION.

The falling off in the registration in this city
is large enough TO excite comment On the first
two registration days this year 4OS.4O1 voters
registered while 434.761 registered on the first
two days in 1904. The loss is 26354 One ex-
PLANTATION given for the decline is that Monday
was Jewish religious holiday, on which ortho-
dox Jews scrupuIously refrained from secular
activities. Yet the loss of the first day was not
overcome on the second. and there is stll
striking deficit. We should like to be able to
account for the decrease in part by saying that
it was due to the suppression of the illegal
floating vote It is estimated that from 10000
to 10000 COloniZed or fraudulent votes have been
cast year by year in Manhattan and Brooklyn
boroughs This fall the laws have been amended
so as to make repeating and representation much
more difficult, and it may be that the padding
of the poll lists has been in a large measure
checked 1t is noteworthy that in Queens and
Richmond boroughs. where fraudulent registra-
ton is rare there has been net gain in voters.
In Brooklyn. where fraud is less prevalent and
practicable than in Manhattan, the decline in
registration is small, the loss being only 1854,
while in Manhattan and The Bronx, where the
Tammdny Hall colonization machine has long
successfully operated. the loss is 1921.
lower registration in Manhattan would be vel
come if il indicated at least partial Topping
off of the fraudulent Tammany vote
The city's population has increased since 1904
bv about 4GOCA0. Counting half OF these addi-
tfons rs aliens and one-ffth Of the remainder
as possible voters, the registration Of this year
should run about 10000 ahead of the reGstra-
ton of 1904 Eliminating 10000 to 10000
names illegally registered the city's normal gain
in voting strength over 1904 ought to be from
10000 TO 10000 Up to date there is a de-
ficiency of 26354 If 10 Improvement is shown
Oh the last two days the loss. which properly
be credited to apathy" will be- roughly speak
ing from $4,000 to 5000. There can be no
doubt that this Presidential campaign has been
outwardly apathetic compared with the cam
paigns of 1896. 1900 and 1904. The most casual
observation will disclose the fact that the people
of New York are not talking politics now the way
they were in any Of the three preceding Presiden-
tial campaigns In this part of the country there
is no political excitement. We do not think
that this condition of affairs Injuries the chances
Of the Republican national ticket. A change in
administrations is usually heralded by popular
ferment. But there is no ferment now. and Mr.
Bryan has failed more sgnally than he did in
1896 or 1900 to interest the masses Of the voters
at least hereabouts, in his programme. They
no longer take him seriously. having discovered
that he fashions his principles nowadays to
promote his own fortunes and is not asking to
be elected only that he may carry out the ideas
with which he has long been identified The
really earnest Bryanites of other years the free
silver men. the anti-imperialists the Socialists
and the Iopulists no longer follow him. and
most of them are supporting other national can
didates. Mr.. Bryan cannot win this year un-
less there is enormous uprising in his favor
But there no signs hnreabouts Of more than
the most perfunctory interest in his canvass.