St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-01-23
REGIS STRAR Gan not
GO THROUGH PARISH
Caleassea ResissraF Issues Ragieas lhas NE
VateFs Mast Some ID PARISH Seal.
Gan not GO IN COUNT
Law Makes Z Mandatory ihai Ha shah Kssp
BIS Office Open ID CsaFiheass Except
ID General Elections.

It would appear that the State
laws are against the Registrar Of
Voters going to the various precincts
Of the parish for the registration Of
voters except preceding q general
election, or BY special order Of the
Governor.
This is the conclusion Of the Regis
trar os Voters Of GaIcasieu parish,
announced after an investigation Of
the matter.
II will be- remembered that Regis
trar Lastrapes, Of St. Landry, an
nounced his willingness 10 make the
country trip for the parish division
election, which takes place Id April
next, if those interested would de-
fray his expenses. Now, however,
since the interpretation Of the law IN
Calcasieu, it is probable that Mr.
Lasbrapes viii also look into the.
matter.
Concerning the Caicaaieu situation,
news item in the Lake Charles
Press says
Parish Registrar z q. Lebleu an
nounced today that be has cancelled
all the dates he had SET for opening
registration Offices at the various.
voting precincts throughout the par
ish and that all registrations this
year will have to Be made at his
Office in this city. Dir. LeRleu ar
rived at this dicision after having OBJ
tanned q careful Interpretation OF the
registration law from al attorney.
According 10 this Interpretation the.
registrar not only il not compelled
to open registration Offices at each Of
the voting precincts but Is forbidden
to do so The act specifically states
that be must keep bis Office III The
court house open daily. Sundays and
holidays excepted, from 5 !. nl. until
/ b. ID. and from q b. ID. until 6 d. ID.
This does not apply To years when
there is a general state election or a
congressional election
In years when q general state
election is held or when d primary is
held to nominate candidates for state
officers or for member Of congress
the law provides: He (the regis
trar1 shall sixty days before the
closing Of the registration establish
his office, for at least one day, at or
near each polling place; during the
last two weeks Of the period, if two
weeks remain Of the period after
holding Of his office for one day at
or near each polling place, he shall
keep his Office at the courthouse
sIn case Of city OF town elections
or special elections the voters must
go To the parish seat TO register url-
less BY special order Of the governor
the registrar is authorized to open
up d registration office away from
the parish seat.
Mr. LeBleu Is serving notice to
the voters in AL parts of the parish
to-day to come to the courthouse 90
register Dis there being no state or
congressional election this year he
will not open Offices anywhere out
side the courthouse. Mr LeBIeu
wishes further to call the attention
of voters Of foreign birth who have
become citizens By naturalization to
the fact that they must bring their
naturalization papers with them when
they come ir to register The deela-
ration of intention to become citizens
is not sufficient as the final papers
must be produced before the party
can register