The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-05-07
SOCIALISTS
APPE AL I D
WASHINGTON
CHARGE is MADE THAT REGIS
TRARS DENY VOTERS REGIS
TRATlON - PERIOD FOR REG
lSTRATION EXPIRES MAY -.

Oklahoma City, May Ga tele
gram was sent to Attorney General
Gregory at Washington by H. NJ
| Sinclair, secretary OF the socialist
party of Oklahoma, in which he
charged that under the new registra
tion law 1000 citizens who are en-
| titled to vote have been refused reg,
istration in Mcintosh county. He
refers to disfranchisement of voters
who are entitled to vote for members
of congress, thus making it federal
matter, and asks that appropriate
action be taken by the government
at once. The telegram declares that
precinct registrars met in secret and
conspired to take this action.
A report was given out at socialist
headquarters, which covers registra-
tion incidents in several parts of the
state. In addition to the Mcintosh
county incident, it charges rejection
of voters in some other places, re.
fusal to act in some precincts and
imposition of literacy test by regis
trars in other places. Reports as
to negroes from some black belt
counties are that they are being
refused registration on the ground
that they did not vote in 1911.
Registration Began Monday.
Registration of voters, which be-
gan Monday of this week in all the
precincts of Oklahoma, will close
Wednesday of next week. So far as
reports have come, there has been
lack of interest in the registration
and the outlook seems to be that the
voting population of this state will
be reduced by the registration law.
That there will be fewer democratic
voters than in the past also seems
likely, although the law is a demo-
cratic measure.
Leaders in all the parties are urg-
ing their voters to register. They
are planning for get-together meet
ings all over the state to see to it
that the registration is as complete
as possible.
State Chairman Alger Melton of
the democratic central committee,
who was in this city from his home
in Chickasha, said that all persons
who desire to vote in the future
should present themselves to the pre-
cinct registrars and secure registfa'
tion certificates, regardless of the
law that provides for mandatory reg
istration of persons who voted in
1914 and who are still living in the
same election precincts. This will
eliminate any doubt as to the regis
trar making a complete registration
of such voters for any reason what
ever Mr.. Melton wrote a Letter III
which he said:
All Voters Must Register.
Some suggestion has been made
that under the provisions of the reg
istration law those who voted in
1914 are not required to register.
Constituting the provisions of this act
together with those of the constitu-
tion, | am of the opinion that unless
a voter registers, he is not entitled
to vote in the primary election, re-
gardless of the provisions of the
registration act, and that if he de-
sires to exercise his right to partici-
pate in party primaries, he must reg
lister under the provisions of the reg
istration law.
Il also call attention to section 9 |
of article of the constitution, which |
provides in part that the legislature |
may provide by law for the regstra-
ton of electors throughout the state
and when it is so provided, no per
son shall vote at any election unless
he shall have registered according to !
law. Under this plain provision of
the constitution it is extremely doubt
full if an elector could rely upon the !
provisions of the registration act with
reference TO electors in 1914 because
Of the want of authority in the leg
stature 20 exempt any elector from |
registering under this provision of the
Therefore. it is eX-
tremely important that all electors
register.
Wants Meeting Saturday.