Imperial Valley press., 1916-04-07

The election to be held IN Imperial
Monday, so far as the question OF
booze is concerned, probably will be
7he hottest one ever held in the csun-
ty, and if that town does not throw
off the booze curse and it's allies in
debauchery which have settled upon
it, it will not be the fault of the ma
iority of the residents, for the busi-
ness element Of the town are fighting
to the best of their ability to make
he place dry.
The rankest kind of frauds have
been perpetrated in registration, and
the booze crowd are determined to
carry the fraud to elimination, re-
gardless of common decency, and also
Ct the fact that such a policy will most
certainly land a score or more OF
their tools in the pen for long peri
DDS.
The grand jury has thus far in
dicted but four men for the registra-
ton frauds which have been perpe-
t1ated, but they have the names of
12O more who have registered fraudu-
lently, and just as sure as these men
vote on election day indictments will
be found against most or all of them.
Most of these men are farm labor
ers, who are simply being used as
dupes of the booze dispensers, and the
saloon men of course are losing no
sleep over the prospect for their tools
being indicted and sent to the pen.
But the question remains whether
these ignorant men will go ahead with
the program in open defiance Of the
law or will stay away from the polls
in the hope that their absence will ex-
cuse the crime of false registration
they have already committed.
1t is understood to be the sense of
the grand jury that some of these men
acted in ignorance in falsely register
ing, and if they do not attempt to take
advantage Of the registration it will
be construed that they have not know
ingly violated the law. On the other
hand, if they attempt to vote fraudu-
!ently, after the publicity that has
been given to the matter, it will prove
the intent to commit fraud, and the
indictments will follow.
1t is known that one of the falsely
registered voters consulted a lawyer
friend and was strongly advised not
to put his head into the moose of the
law a second time by voting, and he
declares his intention to take that ad-
vice.
Summonses ar already issued for
120 persons, it is understood, to ap-
pear before the grand jury, and these
will be served on those who vote i'm
mediately after election.
1t is a matter of satisfaction that
the grand jury, the district attorney
and the sheriff are determined to pre-
vent the county being disgraced by q
glaringly fraudulent election, and if
the threatened crime is perpetrated
there will be long chapter to bt
written in the courts after the elec.
ton.
In Brawley.
Next to Imperial, the liveliest con-
test is in Brawley, where J. Edgar
Ross, a live candidate for city trus-
tee, is stirring up affairs. Mr.. Ross
slogan is:
"Vote for J. Edgar Ross for city
trustee:
"If you want the anti-liquor anG
anti-gambling laws enforced against
! Main street business men with the
same rigor used against the black mer
and Mexicans across the track
"If you believe in justice first ant
harmony afterwards.
"If you want efficiency demanded
of every employee in his department
"If you want the spirit of the law.
to govern rather than technical quib
| BILE.