The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-20
Accuse Registration
Officials of Trying
Bullying Tactics
"HOW WILL YOU
VOTE?" ONE ASKS
Other Registrars Give
False Data On Quail
ficatiOns, Charge

Complaints OF treatment accorded
women who come 10 precinct booths
TO register continued, Tuesday. ON.
Gals are declared TO be seeking TO
bully women out OF their registra-
ton rights and 10 be addressing i'm
proper questions 10 them. Mrs. +.
n. Root, No. ISL Allendale-ave. who
went to her precinct in the Four
teenth ward to register, had this ex-
perience, according TO a statement
made by her, Tuesday.
Mrs. Root was accompanied BY
two women, VINO are not residents
OF Detroit and remained outside the
booth while she went in to register.
The official thereupon yelled that
'he wanted to see all the women. 4"
and started tactics very offensive to
Mrs. Root and her companions.
Brandlshing a pencil under Mrs
Roots nose. the official demanded
to know how she intended to vote
election day"
You women don't know what you
are voting about anyway" the Off
rtaf declared when Mrs Root
piled that 1t was none OF his bust
ness. she says.
The official continued to the et
feet that he guessed he could do
little political work if he wanted
to" and Mrs. Root left after regis.
terlng with difficulty.
I'm a temperance woman and
watch that other gang like a hawk, %
declared Mrs. Root in reporting the
affair.
Complaints Monday, said that of
fcials in some precincts were seek
ing to dissuade women from regis
tering by giving them false infor
nation about the qualifications of
women. Tho a woman need have
no other qualifications than a man
in order to vote on the seven-man
school board charter amendment. in
women who came 10 register that
they had 10 own property, have chill
dren OF school age, or be married
These tactics, however, failed to
scare any women away, for they
seemed TO know their rights and
finally succeeded in getting on the
books
Guy l.. ingalls,. deputy city clerk,
explained that this condition prob
ably arose from ignorance OF quail
locations for women among officials.
When women last registered in
1912, they had to be parents or
guardians OF children. or property
owners.
"The older officials could natural
ly have made mistakes and misin-
formed many women without intent
ing to deprive them OF their right
to register" said ingalls,.
On the other hand. Aid. Sherman
Littlefeld thinks the majority OF Of
ficials are proving too chivalrous in
receiving registrations by women.
He says he knows many unqualified
women are being allowed 10 go on
the books.
IL know OF enc precinct where
women are being accepted II they
are married to legal voters" said
the alderman, Tuesday. These on
cials are paying no attention to the
fact that women must possess the
same qualifications as men. quite
regardless OF their marriage TO any
body"
The corporation counsels Office
supported the alderman, and an
nounced that marriage with a legal
voter does not enfranchise a WON
an who otherwise would not be
qualified.
Registration Is improving in vol
ume, according 10 reports at the
city hall Aldermen who visited the
hall reported that registration so
far as they had observed II. was
normal and promised TO be heavy
on Wednesday, the final day for
Owing to unfavorable
conditions. registration was light,
Monday, the opening day.
Oflcials are still complaining of
cold precinct booths A distress
call 10 the city clerks ONCE when
registration started, brought relief
In many booths. but there are still
some without heat. due to lack OF
preparation by the department OF
public works. In many instances
where stoves and fuel in abundance
have been carted to booths and de-
posted, there Is no stove pipe. and
are doing their work muf.
fed in coats and blowing on their
fingers.