The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-09
LEAGUES LETTERS
ADDRESSED WRONG
Zemansky Says Good Govern
ment Organization Made Mis-
takes in Mailing Notices
Return of Misdireoted Mail
Caused Fear of Fraudu-
lent Registration

Calling the attention OF the good gov
srnment league TO the fact that more
than 10 per cent Of its fear Of fraudu-
.lent registration was based on mistakes
OF the persons who addressed the en-
'reiopes SIN which the leagues phoney
postal ballots were wrapped, Registrar
ZemansKy thanks the league for its
good intentions and refers il TO the su-
perior court for any further relief in
Tie premises.
A large number Of the alleged postal
primary ballots sent out BY the good
T. government league We're returned from
The postofice- The league officials
deemed failure 10 deliver as conclusive
evidence OF an enormous fraudulent
-reglstratiOn- Upon examination Zeman-
sky found that the addresses used by
= the league We're taken from an old reg
lister and that more than 10 per cent OF
the envelopes submitted 70 him were
2. improperly addressed.
In a long letter 10 the league Zemsn-
sky not only explains away the fears
.-cf the leaguers. but gives them an ex-
position Of the registration law and the
methods Of his Office which is unusu-
ally comprehensive and instructive.
Here is ZemansiSy's letter:
To The Good Government League. san Fran
- cisco. Cal-tfeHtlemen- 7 In receipt Of
cllnunlulcstion from your Organize ton. dated
voters 10 whom envelopes hsd been addressed
~ you. which envelopes were returned by the
lssr0fdce IS not delivered with request that
al such names found 70 be those OF persons Dot
entitled o. vote be stricken from the register
rrie- 10 August J.. 1893.
have conferred with members q the cleo
p fi0n commission. and desire 20 make the follow
-lg statement 70 your organisation
The constitution 81 California confers con
eLturiQuaI right 10 vote upon al persons there
zree-fpf. IL has been held that registration
lsws 10 TIE extent hist the same are considered
reasonable bT the courts msT be enacted for the
purpose ~ furnishing evidence q who the per
sons sire that are entitled 70 vote In many
srstes The entire registration q voters Is re-
Cuired ro Re made within few days immedi-
ateiv preceding election In such cases the
number ~ persons Who hsFe removed AFTER
registration win b. very few
me- stare q California las adopted the policy
20 continuous registration. and commencing with
rae h1sr Day ~ danu2rE p eaen even bun
lered year. new registration q voters com
uenrcs and continues fo- The perloo Of two
Tears Every person mo = registers acquires
vested civil right - suffrage Of which he
son Her te deprived except ty proceedings IN
sc-ardauce With iaV- II Be removes 70 another
precinct Bad rbe same county. or city and county.
Le may transfer his registration By new afr
darir after haTinC resided - days II the new
preeuct Or which be has removed The law.
ha7eTer. Goes aor give 10 the registrar of
r1ters re- the bosrd II election commissioners
the names ~ persons mon information by
Others tiat fhev have removed.
MUST HAVE EVIDENCE
Tic civI right which has once attached hT
-te ac- ~ registration Is sight 81 such I'm
r.-rzu-e that it can not he destroyed by any
ming brr strictly legal proceedings The
registrar ~ voters Is empowered "a cancel the
l.sne n q person registered when he knows q
rhe removal II the person registered but this
-- --------- -------- $500 -.
sefa- kn9Vleoge ~ the reg sfIar hl1sef- he
can not destroy the right Of suffrage by hesrssE
evidence. OF merely because the postotfce has
le-rrr. while 80 most cases 7 Is probable thsr
rae sartT no longer resides 81 The place from
which letter Is returned, = = not always 50.
Eesilenee fCr TIE purposes q voting is largely
Q matter - irreu-io-- and parties who alb
sehr have lersl residence IN that plsce where
Dis hshirsri1n is fixed and 10 which. whenever
Do Is ahSenr. he has the intention Of returning.
u is impossible therefore. 70 treat the
collation. n registration The rule which has
been adopted ~ the election department. Tar
su aware ever since rhe existence thereof.
has been ~ rreat such returns by TIE Posfofhce
sufficient reason for warning the precinct
l-fres ~ exercise care ~ socn matter ana hy
ir1lslilE 70 slcl preelnci oosros a proper
challenge list Including such nsmes with al
Others which fle department may have found 70
Furnish possible suspicion Tor challenge
REMOVALS RESPONSIBLE
II inevitably occurs under system Of regis
tration extending over two years that il the
Eec1ll Eear ~ every such registration very large
numbers = persons WI have removed 10 new
~ Other precincts and viii later re-register
tLCrefrom. and that sii organizations which use
rle indexes ~ THIS department for addressing
envelopes several weeks prior TO the close q
registration VIII have miEdirected very great
percentage thereof by sending the same 70 the
I'D instead u the new place of registration
and thereby 81 such enveloPes VII be returned
have foand since the receipt q your re-
rrrned envelopes that over 10 per cert have
been misdirected- IN this department whenever
person transfers bis registration the registrs-
TiaH from she former precinct is Al once can
celed- Tor which reason il Is highly probable
that very great number. q those names 50
returned ~ the postofdce have been since can
ceied IN ibis Office.
Pr The provisions q The law auT person
may proceed hy sction IN the superior court
to compel IRE registrar n cancel any entry
msee % ne crest register Illegally. or that
ought 70 - csnceled ~ reason II facts that
hsv~ occurred subsequent 90 the time Of such
entry but 4 the person whose name IS sought
re court may order him 10 be msde a party
LAW PROVIDES REMEDY
This provision ~ law Indicates the remedy
which Is open 70 be pursued bE r0ur orgsnizs-
rion ~ any other person " organization where
are without reference 10 their particular place
az Ebode- sought To b. stricken from the great
register The court Is clothed with judicial
power ~ ascertain The true facts and 2 suff-
cinet opI'aI n'tE Tor bearing Is given. 50 that
ciTl rights IN such cases II Is for The cont
= determine what evidence. II win receive or
consider sufficient 40 authorize e caneeils-
tion- Proceedings n THIS kind and under this
sisfute hsve at least on one occssion been
judgement caneeling any names wss ever given
Il The case.
There have beer yesrs previously when
very much larger number Of ENVELOPES have
heen returned 10 this office By the poxtofare
than in the present year. and yet 10 complaint
suspicion ~ fraudulent voting ATTACHED ~
wss made This department pursues reasons blr
every method hT which il j. authorized TO deaf
with Illegal registration and ii Is believed
= Re fact and Il may BE- safely said that
81 IS fact that for long time uast tee
elections n this city and county haze been
peculiarly free from any attempts at frsudu-
1ert voting The law does not contemplate that
ERE register u voters can possibly where there
such vast numbers OF removals have
stricken from il the of every person
not emitted 10 vote The law does not furnish
and could not furnish without often DESTROY
inE tie right - sufraEel any provisions which
would accomplish such result The law how
erer. bT providing for challenges and br Grim
tiusl laws O. punish fraudulent voting covers
this subject as fully IS possible
> THANKS TEE LEAGUE
This department desires 70 thank your or
ranization for having called SIS stteltion 10 the
return n these envelopes. IL j. hiEhIy urof,shie
thar more envelopes were returned 10 vosr
organization than Honld teve been the case
q your envelopes lad been addressed from
register - later date
TIE envelopes 81 this DEPARTMENT sent ont II
ffe isSr election in June shows greerer num-
fr-~ las