The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-05-23
THE REGISTRATION
A Sweeping Effort ut the DiSqualiii-
cation OF CitiZenS-ActiOn Unpre-
cedented.


The citizens of Shreveport and
Caddo parish are confronted with a
complication most extraordinary
and without parallel in the his tory
of the parish or this section of the
State.
In this attempt at the sweeping
disqualification Of citizens, is DEM
onstrated the resentment of some
individuals who are presumed to be
the leaders Of the saloonists.
In this attempt there is manifest
ed the audaeity and desperation and
the reeklessness of men standing on
the brink of certain defeat.
RI this effort at the disqualified
tion of good reputable citizens We're
not devised in the hellish spirit of
retaliation there could be offered
some plea OF extenuation for such
extraordinary proceedings, but this
action is in keeping with threats
pronounced with vindictiveness.
And what has been the cause of
this reyengeful demonstration?
The Pros having realized that the
registration rolls should he relieved
of men dead and disqualified by re-
moval, instituted such proceeding as
is required by law. on the advice
and suggestion Of the registrar, who
admitted he had no authority to
strike or erase any name on this
roll except by an order of The court.
+ The contention of the Pros was
contested by the saloenites, but
Judge Sulherlin. after having heard
the fullest expounding Of the law
by the contestants, decided that the
the names of the dead and of the
removed beyond the required limits
of the law must be erased.
In this contention The Pros scored
greater advantage than the Ants
because there were more Ants or
dered 10 be stricken from the rolls
than of Pros.
II was then that the diabolical
threat was made to disqualify all
citizens whose registration was not
strictly according to law in all its
techniralities.
Acting on this threat, Attorney ].
H. Levy. representing the Antis, has
filed a score or more of suits, most
ly against citizens of the rural dis
tricts. II his contention should pre-
vail, hundreds of good citizens IN
the country may be unable TO vote
on June |. This onslaught ON the
voters Of the country is because
they are Pros.
And what of the climax of these
extraordinary proceedings?
The Pros are proceeding TO file
suits against all citizens on the same
technicalities for which the saloon
ties claim they have warrant.
Possibly, If all the contests be sus-
tanned there may not be a thousand
votes cast in the parish and the city.
For instance, the vote of Ward
Seven, with a registration of over
800 votes, Of which there has al
ready been eliminated about 30 dis
qualified voters, may be reduced to
60 or 70 voters qualified to vote.
The game started in the interest
of the saloonites is one at which
two and more can play. L is as the
handling of q sharp two-edged
sword
While the requirements of the
law as to registration are plain and
definite, it is not believed that the
court will sustain the technicalities
and The irregularities upon which
the whiskeyites expect and hope to
disqualify hundreds of good citizens
especially in the country where the
Pros are in the majority.
Tn this action as in others is DEM
onstrated to what ends and to what
means the saloonites will go to ac.-
Icomplish their purpose.
1t would have been fair and reas
enable If they had confined their
purging OF the registration rolls Of
the dead and the removed as did
the Pros, but they have gone be-
yond ali reasonable limits, even il
warranted under techniealities of
law.
+ AS they sow. so may they reap.
and il may be a whirlwind that will
sweep them. at least some of the
leaders. into political oblivion.
Anti Suits Dismissed
The suits filed in the interests of
THE saloonites by Jos. H. Levy on the
plea of defective registration we're
dismissed. The petitions were de-
feetive and must again be presented
as is required by law.
Pros Active.