Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-15
GEORGIA VOTERS
! STRONGLY URGED
IQREG!STER NOW
Formerf Governor Hoke Smith
SboF8 That the Welfare of
the late Depends Upon Pres
ervStion of the Present Law


10 register and that the welfare Of the
state depends upon their registering. is
pointed out BY former Gov. Hoke Smith
IN an Interview explaining the law now
operative and showing why II is the duty
OF patriotic citizens TO see TO il that the
members Of tire legislature TO be elected
this year are committed 10 stand by tbs
registration law, Mr.. Smith says:
Under the new registration law the
registration books close this year on April
the 5th. / wish TO urge every white man
m the state who is legally entitled 10 reg
ister 70 20 -at-once 10 the-tax collector
ONCE and quafify-as voter. and especial
lyI urse tkose 10 register who wish %
preserve the legislation passed in 1907 and
rsoS frs~ SIS 49,
--Ofs an the reform. legislation which
vas enacted during the past two years.
none Is more important than that aimed
atfpurifying our elections
Jur constitutional amendment known
as the Acknowledgement amendment re-
moved the danger of the ignorant, pu.-
chaseable negro at the ballot box
Our nRw primary law prevents the time
OF the primary from being controlled for
selfish purposes
1T has been MAIDS a crime for corpora
tiens teoutfsbtEe money TO politics.
r6sandfdztes srs required-So publish an
der eatfr the money which they spend
to<secure nominations
Blu. none of the-Iegislation intended TO
purify and elevate elections is more i'm
pcrtant than the provision which closes
the registration six months before the
general election
HISTORY OF THE LAW.
The substance OF the new registration
Law was introduced into the senate by
Hon VIC. Martin. from Whitfield coun-
~ II vas introduced into the hoyre by
Hon W. C. Martin. from Whitfield opun-
IT, II. along with other similar bills, was
referred TO a committee consisting OF Yen.
II II Perry. of Hall, and Hon. c. c.
smith. OF Campbell. and the work of per-
feCtfng the measure which was finally
adopted fell to Messrs- Perry and Smith.
The new registration law made II
the duty OF the tax collectors to opse
their registration books in the fail at
the time they began collecting xss-s.
and Il requires the books kept open. un-
I'll the eth OF April This gives NO
month"; - -tich to register. The 10
portuuity IL ample
1T. n - upon the theory that a
iran to- - ~ elector should feel an in
<srest m affairs OF his state and
his fonnty. should realize the impor-
tanee and responsibility OF naming the
men who are to make laws and exc
cute. them. and should be ready in ad-
vance. OF the excitement OF a particular
election 10 qualify as n voter.
HOW THE LAW WORKS.
Our primaries for state house Off
GERS. judges and members of the leg
fslature can take place so days before
the actual election. il will require
about 50 days TO purge the registration
dist. SO that only so days is left by
the new law between the conclusion of
purgfne the registration list and the
time OF the general primary.
Before the adoption OF this law, reg
fstration continued until just before the
primaries, and the registrars never met
-u1tii after the primary was over. There
was no real care To prevent Illegal reg
> fstratfon. There was no purginS OF
padded registration lists.
Now. Immediately after the registra-
ton closes. the registrars are required
70. go over the lists. and IL they find a
: name which in their opinion is improp-
erlv, on the list the party must be no
tilted and an investigation be had to
determine whether ne is entitled to re-
main upon the list.
complete and final list provided
By the registrars will be in the office
OF the clerk of the superior court so
days before the general state primary.
WHO can vote and who cannot vote will
no uncertain question:
The floating. irresponsible element.
which is here today. and somewhere else
tomorrow which sometimes even is in
Georgia on election day and away from
Georgia before and afterwards. this
class will be excluded from participa-
ton In Georgia's elections.
NO white man with a fixed home I'm
Georgia will be excluded unless he is
SO careless of his responsibility as an
To arrr "a
trouble &c make himself an elector by
gafnk. 70 the tax collector and register
<rhe responsibility which a citizen
rh6uId feel as an electsr cannot be too
greatly inpresssd- The consciousness
OF THE fact that the registration lists
carsnot be padded and that illegal votes
rannot be used TO destroy the vote of
the qualified citizen. will largely help
impress upon the voter the duty Of par
debating in an election and Of doing so
wffh an earnest purpose by his vote 10
serve his state and his county
MUST BE PRESERVED.
4 believe that IL the voters will care
ftlly consider the question. they will be
fr7nly convinced, of the Importance to
the state-of preserving our new system
OF registration and Of preserving that
part OF the act which closes the regis
trafion six months before the general
election. -
There are those IN Georgia who wish
20 repeal this law who would open the
food gates for Illegal votes. ! urge
those who believe in purity at the ballot
box and. In Increasing the responsibility
Of Tie voters. 20 carefully consider who
they send TO the next legislature.
.TTorrinately. the present legislature
Last summer declined to repeal our new
Registration law. We should see that
the members Of the legislature to be
elected this year are committed TO stand
r. <hfs reeistra zion law ard protect the
feo9lc Of the state against those who
tTould repeal it.
ONE STEP FURTHER.
1T furnishes a means or carrying
IocsI government closer TO the people.
Win the man who waits for sr7ls one
else TO pay his taxes TO secure his vote
Eliminated with registration list COM
trised of electors with permanent resi-
fences and interested in the welfare OF
thesr ioralities. there arc many CUES
lions OF local government now handled
through the legislature that can proper
" Re referred TO the voters.
"A general law should be passed
which allows the voters or each county