The Cairo bulletin., 1909-02-10
GET PURE BALLOT
BY REGISTRATION
is ADVICE OF MARTIN O. BAKER
OF EAST ST. LOUIS TO
CAIRO LEAGUE.
To ADOPT IN NOVEMBER
is Decision of League--President
Huettc Saye League viii Drop
Nothing But Get What
II Is After.

'Aar
+, About fifty people were at the
! Commercial club rooms, last night, in
response to the call from President
| ". B, Huette and Secretary Cen
/ denen, of the Lirecting Board of the
Pure Ballot League. They were
asked to come to hear an address by
Martin o. Baker. chief clerk of tae
Board of Election Commissioners Of
East st. Louis, who had kindly Of.
fered to come ana explain the man.
ner of conducting an election under
the Registration Law. He said in 1885
East St Louis cast 5000 votes and
| in 1886, the first yeaa under the
| registration law only 1890 votes
were cast 100 per cent of fraudulent
| votes in 1885 The law would in.
crease the cost of holding elections
one-third The salaries of chief clert
and commissioners were paid by the
county. The net extra cost of hold
ing an election under this law in
Cairo would be about 500 per pre-
cinct Tne law was in force in Chi
cago but frauds prevailed there in
not serve In Eatse st. Louis tn
spite of 1t because the best men do
character of the judges and clerks
precluded fraudulent voting. II re-
quires a petition from one-eighth of
the voters to have the law submitted
for adoption by the people. and sixty
days notice must be given before the
election at which the question is TO
be submitted.
Judge John NJ Lansden said the
benefits to be derived from the adop-
ton of the law were so many and so
great that nothing ought To be per
mitted to interfere with its adoption.
II could not be done at the coming
city election because the time was
too short; but it ought to be attend
cd to In time for the November cleo
ton The only serious obstacle in
the way was the shortage of revenue
in both city and county governments
which made tne extra expense bur,
densome, but this might be provided
for in some way
NJ s. Gilbert expressed the belief
the only obstacle that presented IT,
self in his opinion, was the matter
of expense He believed men cou d
be induced to serve as commission.
RS until the city and county should
be able TO pay them. He believed
the matter should be pushed AM
moved tnat the Directing Board of
the League continue its efforts in
that direction.
Hon. Wa--e. Wardor said the eV-
penditure Of 1890 out of the county |
treasury and $1,000 out OF The city
was a very heavy expediture while
we were i'm the midst OF extensive |
road and street Improvements. More |
over he understood there were
frauds practiced in Chicago. Spring
field and East st. Louis in spite of
the law. Protection would lie under
this law. as we'll as under present
conditions in having honest men fer
clerks and judges. Another objection
was that voters who would be unable
to register on a certain day would
be- deprived OF the privilege Of
voting
Mr. Baker explained that for e
teen. years an effort had been made
10 have the law amended SO that the !
poll would he open for registration |
fo~ 80 days before the final day; hut |
without effect Under the present |
law the voter had lo appear I'M per |
SON. on the day designated in the /
law. to be- registered, Just as he nad
to appear In person on election DAY |
In order to vote
". D. Huette said no system could
be absolutely perfect to prevent
fraud. The big commercial houses
the railroads and other great estab-
lishments adopted expensive systems
to prevent stealing. brit all of them /
could be evaded in some way But
any law and any system 20 prevent /
fr,ui was better than none az all
and the CITY and county ought 10
stand the expense Citizens ought
to be proud to serve free OF cost as
election CON uissioners. The Pure
Tallot League is going to push this
thing IL IS not going 10 drop any
thing Or Is going TO keep ar it until
D. gets what it Is after The obiec-
ton Of expense was COOL thing 10
harp on bv those who vere opposed +
10 the reform and Wishei 90 defeat
t The League felt that the law
would help 10 gain clean elections
md there would be- goCi men ar the /
polls 20 see that tt was carried into
fleet
On motion Of Mr.. warler a vote q ,
sanFs was ext anGcd to Mr.. RaseT =
and Mr Lambert tthe latter city :
Ierk at East - LOUIS who accom- :
-aaieI the former.