Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-02
Continued From Page One


Of Georgia. with no excuse under any
circumstances for resort to conduct
other than that which is lawful or
clean IN elections, we can reach a high
er standard OF purity on the part OF
cur citizens than would have been pos
sible under prior conditions.
NEW REGISTRATION LAW.
In connection with the disfranchise-
ment law. we adopted a registration
Law. This registratav.. law WIS in
tended 10 make complete and fully eff
fective the disfranchisement Law, and
IL was also intended TO protect the bal
lot box, even at our primaries, from
the presence OF men VINO did not live
In Georgia, or men who were not resi-
dents OF the counties where they ought
20 vote, and Of men who were willing
TO wait until the excitement of the
election was on to have their taxes paid
for them, and TO be otherwise compen-
stated as an incident to exercising the
privilege OF voting.
Our political opponents demand the
repeal OF our registration laws. They
expressly declare their desire 10 ex>
tend the day or registration until so
days before the date OF the election.
Let Us see what would be the conse-
quence OF this change.
Our general state primary comes ap-
proximately % days before the election.
Our county primaries come still earlier
TO extend the time Cor registration until
- days before the election would prevent
the registrars from doing anything to
purge the registration list, practically
abolish registration. and leave any man
the privilege. no matter where he may
come from. to participate in our pri-
maries- IL would open wide the door TO
Illegal voting. 1t would destroy the pur-
ity OF the ballot box II would discourage
the patriotic voter from participating in
elections because he would know that
the active politician and the agent OF
the interests. using money. would make
his vote Ineffective.
Under our present law registration
closes during the first week in April. It
requires from that day until the first OF
June to perfect the registration lists. and
10 give an opportunity to the registrars
TO purge the list. Our registration law
provides for an appeal by any man who
is dissatisfied with the action of the
registrars TO the superior court, as APP
peals are had from justice courts. The
action also OF the registrars is subject
70 supervision by the courts OF equity.
We close our, registration work on the
part of the registrars a sufficient length
Of time before the general primary to
prevent the excitement of the election
from. hindering the registrars in their ju-
dicfaI work and also a sufficient time
TO permit supervision OF the conduct of
the registrars by the courts IL such SUI
pervision Is necessary. WE HAVE
MADE A GREAT STEP FORWARD
TOWARDS THE PURITY OF THE
BALLOT BOX.
SIX MONTHS TO REGISTER.
Have we done any injustice TO the
voter? We have provided that the citizen
can register at any time from the LIST
OF October 10 the LIST OF April We have
given him six full months in which to
register. We have provided that he can
register at the time he pays his taxes.
giving the privilege OF registration during
the three last months Of the year and
a. the time taxes are paid. which had not
been his privilege prior TO the present
law The opportunity for registration has
been increased and made more convenient
The cry that any one has been disfran-
chised by the registration law is absurd
In the rural districts. the number reg
fstered has increased In the cities. as
a rule, Il has decreased. and that decrease
is principally due TO the fact that Illegal
names were placed upon the registration
rolls in 1905. In the county Of Fulton, in
which / live the white registration for
1865 was over 1850. The white registra-
ton for 1910 Is less than 1850. Over $500
illegal voters were upon the registration
roll OF Fulton county for 1905. l do not
mean that the officers were remiss In
discharging their duty The defect was
In the law.
Now we have a clean registration list
for our primary and only the legal vot-
ers all over Georgia will be allowed 10
vote in the coming election Ihere
have been sC~ne men who were legally
entitled to register who failed TO exer-
else that privilege during the six months
that they were allowed for registration
hut they have no one TO blame but them
selves. In future they will be more
careful and the registered voter Will
grow in appreciation Of the responsible
ity which rests upon him.
There ar several respects in which
the law can perhaps De improved. III n
: citizen once has legally registered, his
registration can to q large extent be
made permanent. The proper plan can
be devised certIicale OF re-
w.I re9tstrstion can be obtained in one
county ana carried to another when the
voter moves from che county to another.
These are details to be worked out with
experience. But NO CHANGE SHOULD
BE MADE IN THE LAW WHICH
Lessons ITS VALUE AS PURE
ELECTION LAW. AND THE LAW
SHOULD BE PERFECTED BY MEN
WHO REALLY SEEK TO ExALT AND
PURIFY THE BALLOT.
In August, 1905, the legislature passed
n bin recurring every candidate for Of
flee TO file under oath a statement OF
expenses incurred in connection with
his race for the office. This will be a
great help when properly enforced to-
Yards purifying elections
have been somewhat amused to see
our oppane~ts fiji the rural papers with
statements that I neglected TO comply
with this law, when Il was not passed
until so days after the primary in whit b
was defeated for governor.
RAILROAD COMMISSION LAW.
The railroad commission law was
amended. The jurisdiction OF the COM
mission was extended TO all Glasses o
public service companies. The power
of the commission TO require for the in
divfdual citizen rights TO which he was
entitled was greatly enlarged. The RAJ
road commission act as conn leted Is
similar In most respects to the public
service law Of New York state. Tho
Eew York law was drawn with great
care by leading lawyers and business
men under the supervision 81 Governor
Hughes. OUR LAW Is BASED UPON
THE SAME PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE
TO THE PUBLIC AND JUSTICE TO
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES
AZ THE NEW YORK LAW.