The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-08-10
REGISTRATION TANGLE
may COST THOUSANDS;
HUGHES GAINS FAVOR

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 10--1n ma.
jority of the counties of the state it
will be necessary to hold a complete
new registration of voters this fall
The new registration will be required.
it is estimated, in at least 60 per cent
of the precincts of the state. In many
counties the entire county will have
to re-register, while in other counties
the new registration will be required
in only part of the precincts. The
registration day will be October 9.
May Burn Poll Books.
The registration law says that the
polling list kept by the poll clerks at
the polls in each precinct shall be a
permanent registration of voters in
that precinct, but it is also provided
that these poll books may be Destroy
ed six months after the election has
been held. In at least 60 per cent
of the precincts, it is said, these poll
books were destroyed, SO that there
is now no accurate and official list of
the voters who voted in those pre-
cincts at the last election
The law says that in any precinct
in which the county auditor is unable
to ascertain the list of legal voters
who voted at the last preceding cleo
ton the auditor shall give notice of
new registration of voters, and that it
shall be under the terms of the regis
tration law. Inasmuch as the poll
books kept by the election clerks fur
nish the only authentic and official
list, the new registration must take
place in every precinct in which the
poll books were destroyed after the
election.
kink is Discovered.
This kink in the registration law
was discovered some time ago, and
Governor Ralston appointed a commits
sion consisting of w. H. Thompson,
representing the Republicans: Regi-
Maid H. Sullivan, representing the
Democrats, and w D. Headrick, rep
resenting the Prograssives, to make a
study Of the question and formulate
a decision as to what should be done
The state chairmen of the three par
ties agreed to accept the decision of
this commission. The commission has
Just given its decision, and it is as
stated above
~ Legislature Blamed
A new registration in sixty nercent
OF the precincts of the state will cost
many thousands of dollars, all of
which could have been avoided if the
Democratic legislature that enacted
the registration law had taken reason |
able care to provide against the des- |
tructlon OF the poll books It is sus- |
pected by some that in many precincts |
the poll books We're purposeIy destroy |
ed In order to wipe out all evidence |
OF illegal voting but nobody knows !
IN how many precincts this was the !
case
: The vigorous speeches of Charles E. !
Hughes thus far on his campaign |
trip, have made a great hit with the |
Republicans here. The manner in |
which Hughes attacks and shows up
the administration for it's vacillating
policy OF government has revealed /
the candidate for president as a cam
paigner OF the most active type. His
speeches already furnished much ma
terial for the Republicans of his
state to use in the campaign, and they
are proposing to. make the best pos
sible. use of what he says. Since
Hughes started on his campaign trip
md began making his sledge hammer
speeches there is greater demand
han ever for speeches by him in In
Llama. 1t begins to look as if every
,cdy in the state wants to hear him.
Party On Defensive
Already Hughes has put the Dem
,crats on the defensive" one promin-
mt Republican said today, and the
Whole administration is bpsy denying /.